New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving celebrates 25th anniversary
Written by Phil Cerroni
The New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving opens its 2012-13 “Sundays at the Symphony” series Oct. 7witha special 25th anniversary concert featuring highlights from grand opera, in collaboration with the Irving Chorale.
The collaborative concert is at 3:30 p.m. in the Irving Arts Center’s Carpenter Hall, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. A gala party follows immediately, in the Carpenter Hall lobby.
The orchestra--together with a full symphony chorus for the first time--will share great moments from operas by Verdi, Handel and Borodin. Wagner’s overture to the opera, Die Meistersinger--performed at the orchestra’s first concert in 1988--Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes and several a cappella selections by the Irving Chorale are also part of the concert.
Thirteen founding members still performing or working with the orchestra will be honored at the gala party just after the concert, with the audience and Irving Chorale as the orchestra’s guests.They are Catherine Barr, oboe; Tom Brown, horn; Tom Connely, trumpet; Bill Cooksey, tuba; Marla Maletic, violin; Betty Miller, viola; Phil Silvernail, french horn; Janice Spooner, flute;Cheryl Stewart, flute; Annette Sudhof, violin; Ralph Wilson, french horn; Sue Wilson, bassoon; and Janet Young, clarinet.
In addition to the Wagner Die Meistersinger overture and the Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes, the full concert program includesHandel’s Coronation Anthem No. 1: Zadok the Priest; Verdi’s Anvil Chorus fromthe opera, Il Trovatore, and the overture to Verdi’s opera, La Forza del Destino; and Borodin’s Polovetsian Dances from the opera, Prince Igor. Without the orchestra, the chorale will perform Earth Song by Frank Techeli, Life Has Loveliness to Sell by James Quitman and The Road Home by Stephen Paulus.
The orchestra is a community orchestra, consisting of trained musicians who choose to continue to play while they serve in other professions: teaching, accounting, filmmaking and others.Since 1988, the orchestra has performed for audiences in Irving and throughout the Metroplex.Music director and conductor is Dr. Sergio Espinosa.
The Irving Chorale is celebrating its 26th season, under the direction of Harry Wooten, artistic director.
General-admission single tickets range from $10 to $18. Season tickets for the five concert series are $25 for students, $35 for seniors and $55 for adults (until Oct. 7, after which the price goes up $5). For tickets, call 972-252-ARTS (2787) or go to www.IrvingArtsCenter.com.
