The Mariposa Symphony Orchestra’s December 20th Festive Holiday Concert will feature a special musical gift to all children aged 4 to 104: Serge Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, narrated from the podium by MSO Founder/Conductor Les Marsden.
The story of Peter and a bird, a duck, a cat, a fierce wolf and Peter’s grandfather is one of the most beloved pieces of music ever written – and one of the most memorable.
The tale introduces various instruments of the orchestra, which individually or collectively represent the characters of the story. Prokofiev’s most famous piece has introduced millions of young and not-so-young listeners to the joy of music.
The concert will include Jacques Offenbach’s buoyant comic masterpiece Overture to “Orphée aux Enfers” or (“Orpheus in Hell”) which has one of the most iconic, immediately-recognizable finales in all of music. Franz Schubert’s joyous Symphony #3 continues the MSO’s assay of third symphonies during the orchestra’s 13th Season. Plenty of holiday-themed music will also be on hand, including Ralph Vaughan Williams’ heartbreakingly beautiful Fantasy on “Greensleeves,” Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride and Les Marsden’s treatment of famous carols: Sierra Christmas Party, the piece which has closed every Festive Holiday concert since the MSO’s premiere concert in 2002.
The MSO’s 2014 Festive Holiday Concert will be held on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Fiester Auditorium of Mariposa County High School. Ticket are only $6 for adults/$4 for students and are on sale at the Mariposa County Arts Council’s office at 5009 Highway 140 in Mariposa (top floor of Chocolate Soup) adjacent to the Mariposa Art Park. For information call 209-966-3155.
Tickets are also available at the Mariposa County Visitors Center (call 209-966-7081 for hours) across from Miners Roadhouse. Full concert information including extensive programs notes will be found on the Mariposa County Arts Council’s website: http://tinyurl.com/MariposaSO
