The award-winning WVU Symphony Orchestra will close its 2014-2015 season at the Creative Arts Center April 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre.

The concert will feature a suite of works by two of France’s greatest composers, Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, during the second portion of the program, which opens with “Nuages” (Clouds) by Debussy.

“This is a work that helped usher in the modern age of music,” said Dr. Arnold. “Debussy’s palette of sounds, the shifting cycles or orchestral colors, were groundbreaking. The clouds are not as much actual clouds represented in sounds, but an impression of clouds, slowly moving in the night sky, faintly lit by moonlight.”

“Nuages” will be quickly followed quickly by Debussy’s “F�tes” (Festivals).

John Weigand, WVU professor of clarinet, will join the orchestra for the third part of the suite, Debussy’s beautiful and playful “Premiere rhapsodie.”

“The Rhapsody calls for my colleague John Weigand to display his extensive, virtuosic range. Debussy composes alternate moments of shimmering beauty and sly humor,” said Arnold.

The concert will close with Maurice Ravel’s spectacular orchestral romp based on Spanish dance and song, “Alborada del Gracioso” (Morning song of the Jester).

Also on the program will be the final winner of WVU’s Young Artist Competition, Tak Chiu Wong, a doctoral saxophone student who will perform Andr� Waignein’s “Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra.”

Opening the program will Carl Maria von Weber’s Overture to his opera “Der Freisch�tz,” which will be conducted by graduate assistant conductor Hanjin Sa.

For concert tickets and information, call the WVU Box Office at (304) 293-SHOW.

Please visit the WVU Symphony Orchestra’s website at http://wvuso.weebly.com/.

-WVU-

cl/04/20/15

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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