MANSFIELD, OHIO – The Mansfield Symphony Orchestra will celebrate its 85th birthday at the March 12 “Drama Kings!” concert at the Renaissance Theatre. Under the direction of Music Director Thomas Hong, the 62-member orchestra will be joined by soprano soloist Heidi Kirschenheiter Vega, tenor soloist Daniel Stein, and the Mansfield Symphony Chorus, directed by Deb Logan.
The concert opens with Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 5, which can be described as both epic struggle and victorious celebration. The second half of the concert takes full advantage of all of the emotion and power that opera has to offer, opening with Rossini’s energetic Overture to “The Barber of Seville” and showcasing the soloists in several other well-known operatic highlights.
Stein and Vega will sing two of Puccini’s best-loved and poignant arias from his opera “La Boheme,” “Che gelida manina” and “Mi chiamo Mimi.”
“The first is a tender love-song performed by lead character Rodolfo when he first meets Mimi, asking her to tell him as much as possible about herself, and the second is Mimi’s musical answer to Rodolfo’s queries. These two short arias are among the most beautiful and recognizable in all of opera, and our two soloists are excited to perform them on this special occasion,” shares Maestro Hong.
Providing a fitting finale to the concert, the orchestra, soloists, and symphony chorus will all combine forces in two pieces which have become show-stoppers in the opera world: the “Slaves’ Chorus” from “Nabucco” by Giuseppe Verdi, and a high-spirited chorus of celebration entitled “Brindisi” from Verdi’s opera “La Traviata.”
Several special events will surround the evening’s main event, as well. All former Mansfield Symphony Orchestra members are invited to attend the concert as special guests of the Mansfield Symphony and Renaissance Performing Arts, Inc., and an “alumni” social gathering will be held in their honor prior to the concert in the lower lobby of the Renaissance Theatre. Any former members interested in attending are asked to contact Steve Taylor, Symphony Operations Manager, in order to reserve tickets. He can be contacted by phone at 419-368-3705, or by email at mso@mansfieldtickets.com for more information on the alumni event.
Also prior to the concert, Mark Sebastian Jordan will offer a free lecture and introduction to the music will be presented at 7 p.m. in front of the stage. This lecture is free to all ticket holders.
Once again, the Mansfield Symphony will collaborate with chefs Rasul Welch and Susan Vander Maas of A Moveable Feast to present a pre-show farm-to-table gourmet meal at 5:30 p.m. in the upper lobby of the Renaissance Theatre. Guests who purchase tickets for dinner will receive a 50 percent discount on their concert tickets. More information about dinner and reservations can be made at MansfieldTickets.com.
The Mansfield Symphony Orchestra’s 85th Anniversary concert, “Drama Kings!” will take place Saturday, March 12 at 8 p.m. on the stage of the Renaissance Theatre.
Student tickets are $10 and available at the box office. Regular price tickets range from $15 to $39 and can be purchase at the box office, via phone at 419-522-2726, or online all the time at MansfieldTickets.com. Tickets for A Moveable Feast are $50 plus a half price concert ticket, and include dinner and drinks.
The Mansfield Symphony Orchestra “Drama Kings!” concert is presented as a part of the OhioHealth Symphony Series, with additional support from Pinnacle Building Services, Metronome Music, and the Ohio Arts Council.
