Chorale Joins National Philharmonic for Season Opening

>Rockville Central friend, Daryl Newhouse, was kind enough to pen an announcement for the National Philharmonic concerts which start the 2009-2010 Season this weekend.

Last Tuesday night as several residents of the West End prepared to carpool to the Music Center at Strathmore for their National Philharmonic Chorale rehearsal with artistic director Stan Engbretson, they passed Maestro Piotr Gajewski knocking on their neighbors’ doors, campaigning for re-election to the City Council. On October 3 & 4, 2009 he will pick up his conductor’s baton to direct the National Philharmonic’s Opening Concert “Beethoven 1-2-3.”

The Chorale, with 6 soloists, will join the full orchestra and piano for the last 5 minutes of Beethoven’s Fantasia op.80 (or “Choral Fantasy”) (It’s been jokingly said that these concert soloists must be earning the highest pay per note of all time!) The Choral Fantasy, written in Beethoven’s “middle period” in 1808, foreshadows his Ninth Symphony, which he completed 16 years later. As you listen, you will hear some familiar variations on the well-known “Ode to Joy” finale of the Ninth Symphony. The text celebrates the power of art to dispel the storm and stress of daily life.

Performances are Saturday, October 3, 2009, 8 P.M. and Sunday, October 4, 2009, 3 P.M. All National Philharmonic concerts at the Music Center at Strathmore are preceded by free pre-concert lectures at 7:00 p.m. in the Education Center. Parking is FREE in the Grosvenor – Strathmore Metro Garage.

The 2009–2010 season marks the National Philharmonic’s fifth full season in residence at The Music Center at Strathmore. The group now known as the National Philharmonic Chorale originated as the Montgomery County Masterworks Chorus. Since moving to Strathmore, the National Philharmonic Chorale has grown to almost 200 members. With six concerts and eight performance dates, this will be our busiest season to date. We will be performing exquisite and greatly varied musical works in addition to the Beethoven, including Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Mendelssohn’s Hymn of Praise, Handel’s Messiah, Bizet’s Carmen, Brahms’ Requiem, and Vivaldi’s Gloria.

Visit nationalphilharmonic.org for concert subscriptions and ticket information. Tickets for this weekend range from $29 to $79 each. Season subscriptions are available. Kids 7-17 are ALL FREE, ALL THE TIME (sponsored by The Gazette). All kids tickets must be purchased in person or by phone.