Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra presents Crowning Achievements, a set of programs on January 25, 7:30pm at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley and January 26, 2:30pm at Oak Harbor High School. Music Director Anna Edwards will lead the orchestra in a program featuring the award-winning Oak Harbor High School choirs, under the direction of Darren McCoy. The Oak Harbor choirs are repeatedly ranked among the best in the Pacific Northwest region and have received numerous accolades and glowing reviews usually reserved for collegiate choirs. Past collaborations with Saratoga Orchestra have included Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Gabriel Faure’s Requiem.
Programmed are “royal” masterpieces including G.F. Handel’s Overture to Royal Fireworks Music and Zadok the Priest, written for the coronation of King George II in 1727, and Mozart’s Gloria from Coronation Mass 1779 for Francis II with vocal soloists Eva Nelson, Christa Ford, Brandon Nelson and Karl Olsen. Swahili inspired, O Sifuni Mungu, and Helvering’s setting of Ave Maria (2001) are contemporary choral works highlighted on the program. Continuing Saratoga Orchestra’s season-long celebration of Beethoven’s 250th birthday, concertmaster Sarah Pizzichemi will be featured soloist on Beethoven’s Romance No. 2 in F major, Op. 50 for violin and orchestra.
As an added bonus, Marta Zekan, weekend announcer at Classical KING-FM 98.1 radio, will be moderating the pre-concert chat 45 minutes before each performance. These informal discussions give further insight into the compositions, composers and performers.
General Admission concert tickets are $25/Adult and $20/Senior-Military. Students under 18 admitted free. Program information at www.sowhidbey.com or 360-929-3045. Tickets available for January 25 concert only at tickets.wicaonline.org or 360-221-8262. Tickets available for the January 26 concert at bayleaf in Coupeville, and Click Music in Oak Harbor and day of tickets at Oak Harbor High School.
For more detailed information please visit www.sowhidbey.com or 360-929-3045.
