Wabanaki Collaboration, Beethoven’s 9th Conclude 127th Season

Bangor, ME —Ā In the summer of 2020, after an unprecedented string of cancellations and with little sense of how long the new Covid-19 pandemic would continue, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra announced ambitious plans for its 125th anniversary season, including Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 for April 2021. Now, two years after the originally scheduled date, and four years since theĀ BSO‘s last performance with full chorus in 2019, Beethoven’s 9th will be the centerpiece of the orchestra’s 127th season finale onĀ Sunday, April 30thĀ at the Collins Center for the Arts.
Led by Music Director and Conductor Lucas Richman, the entire program, titled “Ode to Joy”, will be a celebration of music and life. Audiences will experience the work of three local choruses in everyĀ piece on the program: the University of Maine Singers, Oratorio Society, and Euphony, Orono’s Chamber Choir, all prepared by director Francis Vogt. Featured soloists in the Beethoven will include soprano Amy Maples (returning after a triumphant appearance in theĀ BSO‘s 2019 performance ofĀ Candide), acclaimed mezzo-soprano Rehanna Thelwell in herĀ BSOĀ debut, tenor Dominic Armstrong (returning after making waves in theĀ BSO‘s 2021 streaming concert of vocal works), and bass Benjamin LeClair (who gave a critically-praised performance in theĀ BSO‘s 2012 mounting of Dvorak’sĀ Stabat Mater).
Before the Beethoven, theĀ BSO will present the premiere of milihtĪ±kŹ·at, a new work for orchestra and chorus created by and featuring Firefly The Hybrid. MilihtĪ±kŹ·at is the Penobscot word for ā€œIt has all kinds of soundsā€ and is Fireflyā€™s first journey into symphonic music. As a member of the Penobscot Nation, Firefly is celebrated around the country for his cutting edge visuals and vocals, and this significant collaboration will spotlight the past and present of Wabanaki musical traditions in a historic first for the BSO.
Beginning on Monday evening, April 24th, all members of the community will have the opportunity to stream a Pre-Concert Talk atĀ watch.bangorsymphony.orgĀ featuring Lucas Richman in conversation with Firefly The Hybrid and exploring the full program. Additionally, on Friday, April 28th, the public is invited to attend the annual Dr. Maurice P. King and Constance King Barnes Master Class at 3:30pm in Minsky Recital Hall, UMaine.
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Tickets to the April 30th performance of “Ode to Joy” are available atĀ bangorsymphony.orgĀ or (207) 581-1755. Student tickets are $10 and regular tickets range from $15 to $46. This performance is made possible with the support of Birchbrook and the Maine Arts Commission.
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