The WVU Symphony Orchestra opens its season with two performances this week, both beginning at 7:30 p.m. .
WVUSO will perform Thursday (Sept. 23) at WVU's Canady Creative Arts Center in Morgantown and Friday (Sept 24) at Church-McKee Center for the Arts in Keyser.
The concerts feature Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 in G Major; Matthew Jackfert’s The Black Bear Awakens, with WVU Professor of Violin Mikylah Myers as soloist; and Max Richter’s On the Nature of Daylight.
Matthew Jackfert is a WVU alum and WV Public Radio host. He was inspired by the hibernation cycle of West Virginia’s black bear, specifically its winter torpor and its awakening to the new spring season, when he composed this concertino for violin and orchestra. He incorporates the folk song “Black is the Color of my True Love’s Hair” in the central section of the piece.
Max Richter’s evocative score, On the Nature of Daylight, was originally composed in 2003 as part of a collection entitled The Blue Notebooks. Possibly one of the most popular string works of recent years, the piece has been featured in several films, including Shutter Island and most powerfully, 2016’s Arrival. WVUSO will perform Richter’s piece in his version for full string orchestra.
As a celebration of the return to full orchestra, perhaps no piece best captures the myriad of emotions as much as Dvorak’s G major symphony. From dance to song, from joy to grief, this work carries us through a world of expression that touches and excites.
Tune in to watch Thursday’s event live stream.
For tickets to the Morgantown concert, visit the Creative Arts Center Box Office during the hours of 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily or phone (304) 293-SHOW.
For tickets and information on the Keyser concert, phone 304-788-3066 or 304-788-9465.
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