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NEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu
)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
11/02/2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES-The Natchitoches Northwestern Symphony Orchestra will present a concert Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Douglas Bakenhus is the conductor. Tickets are $5. Northwestern State students are admitted free with an I.D. Douglas Bakenhus is the conductor.
The highlight of the concert will be the performance of Mendelssohn's "Violin Concerto" featuring NSU faculty member Andrej Kurti.
"Mendelssohn's 'Violin Concerto' is one of the top five violin concertos," said Bakenhus. "Performing this concerto takes a great deal of skill because of the sheer velocity of the notes and the melodic lyricism. It is a bit unusual because the violin starts the theme and the violin and orchestra are woven together."
Mendelssohn is regarded by classical music aficionados and critics alike as one of the most prolific and gifted composers the world has ever known. Even those who could not name any of his works have heard his "Wedding March" from "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
The orchestra will also perform Beethoven's "Egmont Overture" and Haydn's "Symphony #104."
According to Bakenhus, the "Egmont Overture" was inspired by a real person who was immortalized in a play by Goethe.
"Egmont was a person who was like Braveheart. He dies willingly for freedom," said Bakenhus.
The piece by Haydn is the composer's final symphony as well as the last of the "London Symphonies."
"Haydn expanded the form in original ways, especially in the use of harmonies," said Bakenhus.