FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2007
PRESS CONTACT: Rebecca Hawkins
781-274-8233
http://www.lexingtonsymphony.org/press/
LEXINGTON SYMPHONY PRESENTS SIGHT AND SOUND: PHOTOGRAPHY AND MUSIC IN MULTIMEDIA CONCERT
On Saturday, November 3rd at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, the Lexington Symphony presents the first of its “Sight and Sound” multimedia concerts—a collaborative project with the National Heritage Museum and Polaroid Corporation— in performances at 3:00pm and 8:00pm. A menagerie of animal photos from the Polaroid Collections will be shown on screen during the first two works on the program, Mascagni’s Intermezzo and Mendelssohn’s Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Also to be performed (without photos) are Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht and Bizet’s Symphony No. 1. A conductor’s talk by Music Director Jonathan McPhee will precede each concert by one hour and selected photos from the program will be available for viewing in the National Heritage Museum’s exhibit Fins, Wings and Other Such Things – Photos from the Polaroid Collections.
Working with Barbara Hitchcock, Director of Cultural Affairs at Polaroid Corporation, McPhee carefully chose images of critters large and small from the extensive Polaroid Collections, which include over 16,000 works fixed on Polaroid film by artists from Ansel Adams onward. McPhee linked each photo to musical moods, twists and turns in the two opening works, using images by local artists as well as internationally-recognized household names like William Wegman. “It’s all about the expression behind the presentation,” says McPhee. “I was interested in the human impact of the art.” Gorgeous, hilarious or simply thought-provoking, the images with music conjure a double bonus: The music brings the viewer deeper into the visual image while the visual image in turn exposes the nuance of the music, creating a unique and lasting impression.
Following the Sight and Sound portion of the concert, the orchestra will perform two additional masterworks: Verklärte Nacht, Schoenberg’s magnificent early tone poem, which explores rich harmonies in a vivid emotional landscape, and the light-hearted Symphony No. 1 by Georges Bizet, whichgraces the second half of the program.
With afternoon and evening performances on offer, the concert is an opportunity to share a distinctive arts experience with young and old alike. Early ticket purchases are encouraged to avoid disappointment. The Lexington Symphony is committed to sharing the appreciation of classical music and building community through quality live performances. Music Director Jonathan McPhee is one of New England’s leading musical figures and conducts orchestras throughout the US and abroad. His ever-popular pre-concert talks, one hour before each performance, are a staple of the Lexington Symphony season and provide compelling insights about the works to be performed.Advance tickets for Lexington Symphony performances can be purchased on-line at www.lexingtonsymphony.org, at Wales Copy Center (1810 Mass Ave, Lexington Center), or by calling (781) 863-9581. Ticket prices are $30; seniors $25, students $15. Discounted season subscriptions are available.
