LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Concert S: Orchestra
built 622 days ago
The worldwide popularity of the New Year's Concert gives the impression that the receptivity of the orchestra to the music of Johann Strauss goes all the way back to the "King of the Waltz" himself. The historical facts... tell quite a different story. Despite the fact that many future Philharmonic members began their careers in Strauss' orchestra, the "Philharmonic Concert Association", as it was called at the time, generally ignored the most charming and "Viennese" music which has ever been written. Probably the musicians did not wish to jeopardize the social advancement they had experienced upon becoming members of the Philharmonic by associating themselves with dance and entertainment music. It should be noted, however, that the Strauss dynasty enjoyed the highest respect among great composers of the day, such as Richard Wagner and Johannes Brahms. The Philharmonic musicians themselves, through several encounters with Johann Strauss, had many opportunities to observe the importance of this music and the charismatic personality of its creator, which had enraptured all of Europe.
Source:
On the night of September 7, 2007, international singer/songwriter Chantal Chamandy, made history by becoming the first person ever to be granted permission to perform a taped concert at the base of The Pyramids on the Giza plateau in Egypt. The night was especially important for the Egyptian-born Chamandy, currently based in Montreal, as she returned to her birthplace to deliver a positive portrayal of middle-eastern culture. Chamandy performed alongside the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, dancers from the Egyptian National Ballet Company and Tanoura dancers in front of a capacity audience of 5,000 people. In addition, acclaimed director Gerard Pullicino (Beyonce, Madonna, Celine Dion), choreographer Genevieve Dorion-Coupal (The Beatles' "Love" by Cirque du Soleil) and set designer Guy St-Amour (... from Cirque du Soleil) added their unique style to this special performance.
Source:
The Sheboygan Symphony and Sheboygan Area School District sponsor the annual Children's Concert, which introduces orchestral music to all public and parochial third-grade students in Sheboygan County. By providing an authentic "concert experience", students will have their world opened to a new understanding of the beauty of live performances.
Source:
Now everyone can experience “the emotional force†of that evening when Decca Broadway releases the concert cast recording of SOUTH PACIFIC on April 18, 2006. Recorded live at New York’s Carnegie Hall on June 9, 2005, SOUTH PACIFIC stars country music and TV superstar Reba McEntire as Nellie Forbush, Brian Stokes Mitchell as Emile de Becque, and Alec Baldwin as Luther Billis. Paul Gemignani conducts the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and the Decca recording has been produced by multi Grammy Award winner Jay David Saks.
Source:
At first glance the inception of what is probably the most popular concert in the world seems paradoxical considering the dark phase of the orchestra's history in which it was established. It was... at this most precarious time in regard to the orchestra's future autonomy that the members dared to set a precedent with political as well as musical significance. In performing a concert consisting entirely of works of the Strauss dynasty, the orchestra subtly underscored Austrian nationality at a time when the country had disappeared from the world map through its annexation by Nazi-Germany. This event, with the simple title of "Special Concert", was conducted by Clemens Krauss on Dec. 31, 1939, with an open dress rehearsal on Dec. 30th, which added another paradox to Austrian cultural history - the fact that the New Year's Concert actually had its beginning on New Year's Eve instead of New Year's Day.
Source:
Sheboygan Area students attend a short concert by the Sheboygan Symphony in the Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts. During the concert, third-graders are introduced to the various instruments that comprise the orchestra. An assortment of musical terms are introduced or reinforced for the students. Some of the famous composers (the masters) and several famous works are presented to the group. The program wraps up with the introduction of "concert manners" to the students.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Orchestra