Published: October 03, 2008 02:11 pm            

Astral journey sets tone for JSO's 80th season

By TOM LAVIS

TLAVIS@TRIBDEM.COM

A work commissioned especially for the Johnstown Symphony will open the orchestra’s 80th anniversary season.

The program, titled “A Journey to the Stars,” will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center at Pitt-Johnstown in Richland Township.

The JSO is the sixth-largest orchestra in Pennsylvania and is improving with age.

Maestro Istvan Jaray said the orchestra has taken its rightful place in history by celebrating 80 years of “Excellence of Music,” the theme adopted for the seven-concert 2008-09 subscription season.

“The first concert, I think, will set the tone for an outstanding season,” Jaray said. “We are celebrating eight decades of excellence starting with a special commissioned work celebrating our orchestra and the city of Johnstown.

“To sustain an orchestra of this caliber is an amazing feat for a city our size.”

The commissioned piece, “A Time for Heroes,” was written by American composer Lucas Richman.

“A piece usually takes a minimum of a year to accomplish once the decision has been made to do it,” Jaray said. “We wanted this work to be dedicated to the heroic and incredible human strength and spirit of the people of Johnstown.”

While the commissioned piece is a challenge to the musicians, Jaray said that he is confident the selection will be audience-friendly.

“The wonderful thing about a commissioned piece is the opportunity to discuss certain aspects of the work directly with the composer,” Jaray said.

Also on the program is guest pianist Andrew Armstrong, who will perform George Gershwin’s “Piano Concerto in F,” a familiar and jazzy work composed the year after “Rhapsody in Blue.”

“He is an outstanding, internationally known artist with whom I have worked with before,” Jaray said.

Armstrong, who has been acclaimed for his passionate expression and dazzling technique, has performed solo recitals and with orchestras in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the United States, including performances at Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Kennedy Center and Warsaw’s National Philharmonic.

In chamber music, he has performed with the Alexander, American and Manhattan Quartets, as well as with Itzhak Perlman.

Having performed more than 30 concertos with orchestras, Armstrong has impressed his international audiences with a large repertoire ranging from Bach to the present.

In 1996, Armstrong was named Gilmore Young Artist.

At the 1993 Van Cliburn Competition, where he was the youngest pianist entered, he received the Jury Discretionary Award.

The symphony’s major work for the evening is Gustav Holst’s “The Planets.”

His musical impressions of seven planets (Holst did not include Earth or Pluto) do much to exhibit the composer’s mystical mind play and interest in space and astrology.

“Whether the music we hear was written hundreds of years ago or yesterday does not matter,” Jaray said. “It takes the listener out of now to another world which is peaceful and magical, if only for a few hours.”

All concerts will start at 7:30 p.m. and be held in the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center.

The remainder of the season includes:

Nov. 28: “Hail to the Chief,” a salute to the armed forces.

Dec. 13: “Home for the Holidays,” a Christmas concert.

Feb. 7: “Romance and a Touch of Jazz.”

March 7: “Central Europe on the Orient Express.”

April 4: “Illustrious Star – Shining Future.”

May 2: “Crowning Finale – Happy 80th JSO.”

Season ticket prices are $160 (balcony or floor), reserved; $125, general admission; $95, senior citizen; and $60, student.

Season ticket holders will receive assigned seats of their choice (subject to availability).

Information: 535-6738, or through e-mail at info@johnstownsymphony.org.



To the stars

Who: Johnstown Symphony Orchestra.

What: Opening concert of orchestra’s 80th anniversary season.

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center at Pitt-Johnstown in Richland Township.

Tickets: Call 535-6738.

Cost: $26 for reserved seating, $22 for general admission, $15 for seniors and $10 for students.

        

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