Four Centuries of Great Music May 18, 2025 Music from the 2024-25 Season of the Savannah Philharmonic

Four Centuries of Great Music  May 18, 2025 - Music from the 2024-2025 Season of the Savannah Philharmonic

The Savannah Philharmonic season opened with the program “Romantic Rachmaninoff” on Saturday August  24, 2024 at 7:30pm  at the Lucas Theater for the Arts with Keitaro Harada conducting.  One of the pieces on that concert was Jeff Scott’s Paradise Valley Serenade for brass quintet and orchestra.  This concert featured the Imani Winds with the orchestra.  It is in 3 movements:"Dawn and Dusk”, "Paradise, Razed but not Forgotten” and "A Hug for Cab”

Paradise Valley Serenade, opens with a morning yawn and sunrise in "Dawn and Dusk". The day has begun like most others and there is work to be done, like in any other urban American community. But unlike most communities, there is a cultural hub within, that spews musical fire by night and draws the culturally curious to witness the flames.

Second movement, "Paradise, Razed but not Forgotten", I envisioned an elder from the Paradise Valley or Black Bottom community, in a docile voice, telling the story to a grandchild. The story is told with great melancholy and even describes his/her witnessing of the demolition of the neighborhoods. That said, there is pride in the telling. A feeling of fortitude and resilience.

For the last movement, "A Hug for Cab", I envisioned what it might have been like to see Cab Calloway live at the Paradise Theater. With his swinging big band, double entendre lyrics, high energy dancing and stage antics.

Here is a performance of Jeff Scott’s Paradise Valley Serenade by the Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by David Hattner also featuring the Imani Winds from a live performance at the March 02, 2024 Winter Concert entitled "Serenade in the Wind”.  

The September 21, 2024 Concert of the Savannah Philharmonic was entitled “Mozart and More”. This concert which was at 7:30pm at the Lucas Theater for the Arts and featured two works by Mozart.  This concert was conducted by Keitaro Harada  and featured pianist David Fray.   One of these two works by Mozart was Mozart’s Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 (Haffner).  This is in 4 movements I. Allegro con spirito; II. Andante; III. Menuetto and IV. Finale. Presto

MOZART:  Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 (Haffner)-I. Allegro con spirito
MOZART:  Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 (Haffner) - II. Andante
MOZART:  Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 (Haffner) - III. Menuetto
MOZART:  Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 (Haffner) - IV. Finale. Presto

Here is a performance of MOZART:  Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 (Haffner) by the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen conducted by Tarmo Peltokoski from the album Mozart Symphonies. Deutsche Grammophon

The first concert of the Savannah philharmonic’s 2024-2025 season entitled “Romantic Rachmaninoff” on Saturday August  24, 2024 at 7:30pm  at the Lucas Theater for the Arts with Keitaro Harada conducting also featured a performance of Ruth Gipps tone poem Death on the Pale Horse, Op. 25.

Here is a performance of Ruth Gipps’ Death on the Pale Horse, Op. 25 as performed by Rumon Gamba conducting the  BBC Philharmonic from the album Gipps: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2. Chandos Records.

The other work of Mozart featured on the second concert of the Savannah Philharmonic season on September 21, 2024 at 7:30pm at the Lucas Theater for the Arts entitled “Mozart and More” was  his Piano Concerto No. 21 in C, K.467.  This work is commonly referred to as the “Elvira Madigan” concerto as the second movement was used in the soundtrack of that movie. .  This concert was conducted by Keitaro Harada  and featured pianist David Fray performing this work by Mozart with the Savannah Philharmonic.  It is in three movements: I. Allegro maestoso; II. Larghetto and III. Allegro vivace assai

Here is a performance of  Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C, K.467  Elvira Madigan by

Sergio Fiorentino, piano with the London Mozart Ensemble conducted by Mervyn Vicars
Sergio Fiorentino The Legacy CD 17
Brilliant Classics

On the sixth concert of the Savannah Philharmonic’s 2024-2025 season on February 15, 2025 entitled “Symphonic Spirit” was conducted by guest conductor Jason Max Ferdinand at 7:30pm  at the Lucas Theater for the Arts.  It featured Adolphus Hailstork’s Symphony No. 1.  This work is in 4 movements: I. Allegro; II. Lento ma non troppo; III. Allegretto and IV. Vivace

Here is a performance of Adolphus Hailstork:  Symphony No. 1 with JoAnn Falletta conducting the Virginia Symphony Orchestra from the album Hailstork: Orchestral Music Naxos Recordings

I will conclude this episode of Four Centuries of Great Music featuring some of the music performed by the Savannah Philharmonic during their 2024-2025 season of concerts with music from the BACH BRANDENBURGS & MORE concerts which were on Friday, March 7, 2025  at 7:30pm and on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 3:00pm at Independent Presbyterian Church 207 Bull St featuring Keitaro Harada conductor,  Jeana Melilli flute and Jacob Fuhrman harpsichord.  From that concert I have selected Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major, BWV 1048: which is in three movements I. Allegro,
II. Adagio (Cadenza), and  III. Allegro

Here is a performance of  Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major, BWV 1048 featuring  Helmut Müller-Brühl & Cologne Chamber Orchestra from the album 24 Hours of Classical Music – The Perfect Start to Your Collection
Naxos

You have been listening to a performance of  Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major, BWV 1048 featuring  Helmut Müller-Brühl & Cologne Chamber Orchestra from the album 24 Hours of Classical Music – The Perfect Start to Your Collection

Tonight on Four Centuries of Great Music we have been listening to  music performed by the Savannah Philharmonic during their 2024-2025 season of concerts.  I hope you have enjoyed tonight’s episode. Join me again next week when I explore some of the music presented at the 2024-2025 season of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra.  Remember these new episodes are are Sunday from 3-5 pm.