The Hillsdale College symphony orchestra will hold its winter performance on Nov. 20 and 21 in Christ Chapel, featuring faculty soloists Brad Blackham and Emily Douglass.
Blackham, an artist-teacher of piano and director of keyboard studies for the college, will be performing Ravel’s “Piano Concerto in D Major (for the Left Hand.)”
“It was commissioned by a pianist who either lost his right hand or had his right hand severely damaged in World War I,” Blackham said. “The pianist, Paul Wittgenstein, commissioned a number of such pieces. He actually wasn’t a big fan of any of them.”
However, Blackham said it is one of his favorite pieces, in spite of its difficulty.
Douglass, an artist/teacher of music-voice and the vocal area head for the college, will be performing arias by Mozart and Dvorak.
“Come scoglio” is an aria from Mozart’s Italian opera “Cosi fan tutte,” according to the program notes. In the aria, Fiordiligi declares her loyalty to her lover when he and her friend’s lover attempt to woo the women in disguise.
“Song to the Moon” is an aria from Dvorak’s Czech opera “Rusalka.” The opera follows a plotline similar to “The Little Mermaid,” Douglass said. This aria is the water nymph’s plea to the moon to communicate to her lover that she loves him.
“I’m excited to share those stories with the audience,” Douglass said.
The symphony orchestra will be accompanying the soloists and also performing “Sibelius Finlandia” and Respighi’s “Fountains of Rome.”
Tickets are free, but must be reserved by calling 517-607-2848 or emailing boxoffice@hillsdale.edu.
