2012-13 season finale this Saturday
This Saturday, you will have the opportunity to experience an unlikely combination of two music genres. The rock band Queen was and has been known for its driving rock music rhythms and lyrics, and style while the Lima Symphony is mostly associated with its Classical music repertoire. This Saturday however, the two combine forces as they take the Central Insurance Stage of the Niswonger to present “The Music of Queen: A Rock & Symphonic Spectacular.”
British conductor, musician and arranger Richard Sidwell combined with producer Andrew Wyke in putting the show together. In 2008, it premiered at Warwick Castle in England, followed by concerts all over the UK. The audience’s reaction was – incredible! They soon started playing arenas and eventually brought the show to the U.S. in 2010, the highlight being performances with the esteemed Atlanta Symphony at the Chastain Park Amphitheatre in Atlanta. In 2012, the show was booked in Australia. This past year, they have been touring the U.S. once again and we have the distinct honor and pleasure to bring this experience to Van Wert’s Niswonger Performing Arts Center.
Queen is a British rock band that got its start in the 1970s and grew to be one of the most iconic of all rock bands. It is estimated that they have sold between 150 and 300 million albums. There are few bands that have stayed in the public eye, but much like their British counterparts, The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd, Queen’s music seemingly lives forever. Of course, TV commercials and the sports world constantly use their music, such as, “We are the Champions,” “Another one Bites the Dust,” and the classic “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
If you stop and analyze much of Queen’s music, you would find that an orchestra plays a vital part in many of the recordings, just as it did in many of The Beatles recordings. What you will experience in Saturday’s performance at the Niswonger will be a full orchestra, in this case the Lima Symphony Orchestra, with a rock band (guitars, bass, drums, and keyboards) and four singers all out in front of the orchestra. Strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion add color and texture to the songs that you will hear and have always loved listening to. It is truly a marriage of rock and classical music on stage, or as we have said, “A Rock & Symphonic Spectacular!”
Some tickets remain for this 7:30 p.m. concert, which is the finale to the 2012-13 Niswonger season. You can order them on-line at www.npacvw.org or call the box office at 419.238.1743 between noon-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. The box office will open at 6:30 PM on the night of the concert to sell any remaining seats.
Many enjoyed the absolute artistry of pianist Thomas Pandolfi this past Sunday as we concluded our Community Concert Series for the year. I can sure tell you one thing, our Baldwin concert grand piano has not been worked over as much Pandolfi worked it over. It truly showed what a master musician can accomplish on a masterful instrument. Many have played our piano, but few like Thomas Pandolfi!
We announced the opening of our Community Concert 2013-14 season. We are now taking renewals from those who would like to buy the entire season. Directors and sponsors have first option on seating through May 8 and then patrons through May 24. After May 24, we will accept anyone wishing to purchase the series. All the concert information can be found on our website, www.npacvw.org, and on Facebook and Twitter. We also have brochures available at the box office.
And speaking of brochures, stop by and pick some up at the Niswonger or Van Wert County Foundation office for the Fountain Park Summer Music Series. We are just four weeks away from our opening with Phil Dirt & the Dozers on Peony and ArtRageous weekend. The weather sure makes you think about outdoor concerts in the park. Once we get past this Saturday, we will all start thinking about being outdoors.
I hope to see you at the Music of Queen concert this Saturday, only this time my view will be from the stage in the middle of the trumpet section.
FINÉ.
POSTED: 05/09/13 at 5:43 am. FILED UNDER: News