The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (WVSO) continues its 75th anniversary season with an exciting lineup of concerts for serious symphonic music listeners, pops lovers, and families alike. This year’s season theme is “Discover Your Symphony,” which unites the community, region and state to explore the incredible world of symphonic music. Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the WVSO is one of West Virginia’s premiere cultural institutions that delights audiences and provides invaluable music education opportunities to children and musicians across the State.
The Capitol Conference Center Symphonic Series continues on Jan. 24 and 25, as the WVSO presents Sibelius’ Symphony No. 1 and guest pianist Valentina Lisitsa performs Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15. On Feb. 28 and Mar. 1, WVSO presents The Mary Price Ratrie Legacy Concert with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 (Eroica) and Beethoven’s Violin Concerto featuring guest violinist Korbinian Altenberger of Astral Artists. The series closes on May 2 and 3, with Orff’s Carmina Burana with Janet Brown, soprano, Gerald Gray, tenor, Paul Kreider, baritone, the Appalachian Children’s Chorus, Fairmont State University Chorus, West Virginia Symphony Chorus and the West Virginia University Chorus. The concert also features Charleston, WV native Matthew Jackfert’s On the Shores of Qingdao and Modarelli’s River Saga. Each concert includes “Preludes,” a pre-concert discussion with Maestro Grant Cooper beginning at 7 p.m. “Preludes” is free to all concert-goers.
The ZMM Architects & Engineers Pops Series is sure to delight and entertain audiences with another season of great guest artists and performances. Feb. 7 and 8 features Satisfaction: The International Rolling Stones Show with the orchestra. The show is hailed as one of the most authentic cast and production shows honoring the Rolling Stones. The concert showcases hits such as “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Paint it Black” and “Satisfaction.” On Mar. 14 and 15, WVSO brings audiences The John Williams Experience honoring the world’s greatest movie composer with music from Star Wars, Indiana Jones and E.T. The series closes on Apr. 11 and 12, with Wicked Divas bringing the best of Broadway to Charleston with selections from Wicked, Gypsy, Ragtime, Titanic and opera selections from George Bizet’s Carmen.
The City National Bank Family Discovery Series continues this season with performances that are perfect for the whole family. On Mar. 15, Slim Goodbody joins the WVSO to bring A Celebration of Yourself. The Series closes with The Music of Harry Potter on Apr. 12.
The 2013-2014 Montclaire String Quartet Series returns to the University of Charleston’s beautiful Erma Byrd Gallery for a third year. Performances for the remainder of the season are New England Patriots on Feb. 2 and Lucky Seven on Mar. 23.
Symphonic, pops, and family concerts are held in the Maier Foundation Performance Hall at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia in Charleston. Montclaire String Quartet concerts are held in the Erma Byrd Gallery on the campus of the University of Charleston. For tickets and more information, visit www.wvsymphony.org or call the Clay Center Box Office at 304-561-3570.