A celebration of the UCA’s Fifth Anniversary Season featuring The Power of Bruckner
The University Symphony Orchestra will close the 5th Anniversary Season of the University Center for the Arts on Tuesday, April 29 and Wednesday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. with a concert entitled ‘The Power of Bruckner’ in the Griffin Concert Hall at the University Center for the Arts, located at 1400 Remington St.
Tickets are $7 for CSU students, $1 for youth (under 18), and $12 for the public. Tickets are available at the University Center for the Arts (UCA) ticket office in the UCA lobby, by phone at 970-491-ARTS (2787). Youth tickets must be purchased in person at the Ticket Office. Advance purchase is recommended to avoid at-the-door fees.
The symphony opened the semester with the mighty Beethoven 5th Piano Concerto, Schubert Symphony No. 5, and Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5. Director of CSU Orchestras, Wes Kenney, continues this “Season of 5ths” theme with ‘The Power of Bruckner,’ where the ensemble will perform the composer’s Symphony No. 5.
This is the first time a Bruckner symphony will be performed at CSU, and learning the piece was no easy feat.
“Playing Bruckner is a phenomenal challenge and accomplishment for the CSU symphony in both endurance of time and strength,” said Kenney.
The musicians must be able to play for over an hour and fifteen minutes, as well as withstand extraordinarily loud music due to the emphasis placed on the brass section.
The concert also features alumni who played in the ensemble during their time at CSU joining the symphony for this monumental work. There are currently over a dozen alumni musicians returning for the concert.
Bruckner’s 5th Symphony is filled with emotions ranging from sweetness to volatile. The orchestral sound moves from a whisper to explosions of unison force. Sometimes referred to as the "Tragic," "Church of Faith," or "Pizzicato" symphony, the piece was written during a troubled period of the composer’s life. One of his most contrapuntally intricate works, this 5th Symphony was composed on the heels of a very poor reception to his 3rd Symphony. But Bruckner remained true to his restless drive for rhythm, ever-changing palette of key changes, and stretching tonality that made the 5th Symphony a popular and powerful seminal work that continues to spark an element of mystery and creativity to the listener.
About Wes Kenney
The 2007 Grand Prize Winner of the Varna (Bulgaria) International Conducting Competition, Wes Kenney is now in his tenth season as Music Director of the Fort Collins (Colorado) Symphony. Named in 2004 to an additional post as Music Director of Opera Fort Collins, he currently conducts three professional operatic productions as well as numerous orchestra concerts and dance performances each season throughout Northern Colorado. Read more.
The University Center for the Arts at Colorado State University provides an enriched venue in which the study and practice of Art, Dance, Music and Theatre are nurtured and sustained by building the skills and knowledge needed by future generations of arts professionals to become contributors to the essential vitality of our culture and society. During the 2013-2014 season, the UCA celebrates its fifth anniversary and features several celebratory events that highlight connecting our campus and community with impactful arts. For more information, visit UCA.Colostate.edu.