The Lone Star Youth Orchestra will open its 25th Anniversary Silver Season on November 8th with a concert titled "Minor Masterpieces". Conductor Maestro Eliezer Dobrin, back for his second year, has curated a concert of lesser-known pieces primarily written in a minor key. The hour-long program features Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Adagio and Fugue in C Minor, K. 456, the third movement of Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120, Johannes Brahms’ Tragic Overture, Op. 81, and BedÅ™ich Smetana’s The Moldau.
Adagio and Fugue - Little is known about this short string work by Mozart. It wasn't commissioned by anyone, so we can only speculate. What we do know is that it was likely written in the style of Bach's contrapuntal works and was likely attempting to emulate the style.
Symphony No. 4 - A dark and brooding symphony, this work was one of the first of its kind to incorporate the same musical themes throughout all of its movements. It has been praised by critics as "possibly Schumann's most greatest and most masterly composition."
Tragic Overture – This piece is a standalone concert overture for orchestra, coined as "tragic" by the composer for the turbulent, tormented character of the piece. It is a sort of companion piece to Brahms's Academic Festival Overture in that it was written to be the direct antithesis in tone.
The Moldau - The second piece of music in a collection of six symphonic poems by Smetana titled Má vlast (My fatherland), The Moldau is a trip down the Moldau river (Vtlava in Czech), stopping by various sites along the way, including a peasant wedding and raging rapids. The work's main melody is quite haunting and will absolutely stay with the listener long after the performance.
Single tickets are available by visiting IrvingArtsCenter.com, by calling (972) 252-2787, or by purchase at the door. Ticket prices are $7.50 per student and $14.50 for adults.
"Minor Masterpieces" will take place on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at the Irving Arts Center’s Carpenter Hall. The Arts Center address is 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, TX 75062.
The Lone Star Youth Orchestra is the only tuition-free youth orchestra in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and is one of the most pivotal pre-college experiences for talented high school instrumentalists. Membership in the Lone Star Youth Orchestra is open to all middle and high school string, woodwind, brass, and percussion players. Information regarding auditions for the 2023-2024 season can be found at www.lascolinassymphony.org/lsyo or by calling (972) 252-4800.
Maestro Eliezer Dobrin is now in his second season as conductor for LSYO. Maestro Dobrin received his education from the University of North Texas and Stephen F. Austin State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in music and a Master of Music in orchestral conducting, respectively. He has been a violinist for twenty-eight years, has taught privately since he was sixteen, and currently works as the orchestra director at the William B. Travis Academy/Vanguard for the Academically Talented and Gifted in Dallas ISD.
