By Oregon Coast TODAY
NEWPORT — The Newport Symphony Orchestra presents its December concert “Baroque and Beyond III” featuring a collection of holiday and classical favorites on Wednesday, Dec. 6.
The performances are at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Newport Performing Arts Center, with light refreshments provided to the audience after each show.
The series features Handel’s “Concerto Grosso, Opus 3 no. 3” in four movements, Wagner’s “Siegfried Idyll,” and Tartini’s “Sinfonia Pastorale” in three movements with concertmaster Casey Bozell on solo violin. The program will be played without intermission.
Originally published in 1734, likely without Handel’s knowledge, “Concerto Grosso, op. 3 no. 3” has different solo sections that heavily show off individual players, especially flute. Each movement is small and delightful, and each a different flavor or combination of delightful things, which keeps each movement and part of this concerto grosso exciting and tantalizing.
“Siegfried Idyll” was written by Richard Wagner as a gift for his wife to celebrate the birth of their son Siegfried in 1869. The orchestral poem features highly romantic lines and the sensation of the outdoors.
Inspired by large picturesque lake scenes where the idea for this piece was conceived, Wagner’s opera “Siegfried,” which premiered in 1876, incorporates music from the “Idyll.” Originally, Wagner planned to keep this piece a private family piece, but later was paid to expand and orchestrate it.
One of the earlier composers for violin, Tartini’s “Sinfonia Pastorale” invites the listener to dive into the beauty of string orchestras, accompanied beautifully by harpsichord. A work that exemplifies double stops on the violin and gives the listener a chance to really focus in on the violin soloist, the orchestra sits on continued low chords or delightful structured movement. In Tartini’s time, people would have heard “pastoral music” as shorthand for shepherds, and therefore the Christmas story. For that reason, there are a number of baroque pastorales for the season, including Corelli’s famous “Christmas Concerto” and the Tartini work featured.
Tartini’s music reminds the listener that beauty can be uncomplicated, and that the focus of melodic lines in one instrument can be breathtaking.
- The Wednesday, Dec. 6, concerts are at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at the Newport Performing Arts Center, 777 W. Olive St. Standard tickets are $44.25 to $69.75 and $15.50 for students.
- For more information, go to coastarts.org or call 541-265-2787.