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The Virginian-Pilot
Sep 29, 2005
Symphony cuts loose to jam at the Granby
BY PAUL SAYEGH
NORFOLK — The Virginia Symphony Orchestra is breaking loose. Released from the staid confines of Chrysler Hall – its usual home – the orchestra is going to play at the newly restored Granby Theater.
A new, three-show series – Symphony Night Live – begins tonight with Vegas, Baby!
The undertaking puts the emphasis on new audience development and new venues as the symphony reaches out to be a more vibrant and vital member of the local arts scene – and to make that arts scene more accessible to the community.
For years, symphony orchestras have struggled with their image as conservative organizations that were immune to change as their audiences shrank and grew older.
Pops concerts, outdoor concerts and wine tastings have been tried. It’s not always clear how successful they have been at increasing audiences at an orchestra’s central activity, namely the traditional repertoire showcases that remain a symphony’s chief order of business.
One reason for the gradual change in audience size has been the steady increase in competition from other events, such as opera, other concert series, pop music, jazz, sporting events, television, the Internet and video games. Fewer people are subscribing to symphony concerts – committing to a series of eight or more concerts is too confining.
Many orchestras, even ones as well-endowed and established as the New York Philharmonic, have turned to unique, even radical strategies to entice new concertgoers.
Hence, Symphony Night Live at the Granby. For $25, a ticket-buyer will get drinks and hors d’ouvres, music, games and chances to win prizes. There will be chairs on the dance floor and tables and banquettes set around the theater . The evening is targeted at young professionals and downtowners.
The musical side of the program will feature works by the eclectic Michael Daugherty, a composer who has drawn much inspiration from American icons, and who has attempted to bridge the gap between classical music and pop culture. His compositions include the symphony “Philadelphia Stories” and the percussion concerto “UFO.”
Local audiences will get a chance to sample Daugherty’s “Dead Elvis” for chamber ensemble, featuring principal bassoonist Andrew Gott. Daugherty’s “Sinatra Shag” is also on tonight’s program. In addition, there will be music associated with Elvis, as well as Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer.”
The symphony plans two more SNL programs this season: The Big Bang on Feb. 2, where the chief musical selection will be Darius Milhaud’s jazz-inspired “La Creation du Monde (The Creation of the World),” complete with choreography by Todd Rosenlieb, founder of Norfolk’s Todd Rosenlieb Dance, and Devilish Desires on April 27, which will feature Igor Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale.”
And there is a follow-up to SNL – Encore, which promises a Chrysler Hall concert and a post-concert party with the musicians at Granby Street restaurants, all for $30.
That happens with the New World at Chrysler on Nov. 19; Music of Mozart on Jan. 28, and Sibelius by Chang on April 22.
• Reach Paul Sayegh at psmusic @cox. net.
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The Virginia Symphony Orchestra with a complement of 79 professional musicians under the direction of Grammy-nominated Music Director JoAnn Falletta performs 140 concerts annually, reaching 200,000 concert goers every season in venues throughout the region. Our education and outreach programs reach 53,000 students and adult learners every year. The Virginia Symphony Orchestra is the cultural cornerstone of the performing arts in Hampton Roads.
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