Wheeling Symphony concert comes ‘From Russia with Love’
The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra will celebrate its 87th anniversary season with an opening-night concert, “From Russia with Love,” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Capitol Theatre.
Cellist Julie Albers will join the orchestra as soloist, performing Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme.”
“The opening-night program juxtaposes works of great wit, elegance and power,” said Andre Raphel, WSO music director and conductor. “Rossini’s ‘La Gazza Ladra Overture’ makes a sparkling curtain raiser, and Shostakovich’s fFifth Symphony’ is especially gripping. It’s a testament to the composers represented that along with Tchaikovsky’s ‘Rococo Variations,’ these pieces have become some of the most beloved works ever written.”
Albers is recognized for her superlative artistry, her charismatic and radiant performing style and her intense musicianship. She began violin studies at the age of 2 with her mother, switching to cello at age 4. She moved to Cleveland during her junior year of high school to pursue studies through the Young Artist Program at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with Richard Aaron. Albers soon was awarded the Grand Prize at the XIII International Competition for Young Musicians in Douai, France, and, as a result, toured France as soloist with Orchestre Symphonique de Douai.
She made her major orchestral debut with the Cleveland Orchestra in 1998, and has since performed in recital and with orchestras throughout North America, Europe, Korea, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand. Recent performances have included debuts on the San Francisco Performances series and at the Grant Park Music Festival, where she performed Krzysztof Penderecki’s “Concerto Grosso” for three cellos, with Mr. Penderecki conducting.
She is active with the Albers String Trio and the Cortona Trio, and is assistant professor and holds the Mary Jean and Charles Yates cello chair at the McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University in Macon, Ga.
The WSO also will hold a pre-concert dinner at 6 p.m. in the Capitol Theatre Ballroom catered by Rocco Basil. Cost is $25 per person. At 7 p.m., Concert Talk in the ballroom will provide insight into the music.
For concert tickets or dinner reservations, call 304-232-6191.