Symphony, Chorale cap classics set

May 11, 2006

Author: Travis Rivers

Position: Correspondent

Source: Spokesman Review

The Spokane Symphony, the Symphony Chorale and dancers from Theatre Ballet of Spokane end the orchestra's 2005-06 classics season Friday night at the Opera House.

The program includes the Overture to Janacek's opera "The House of the Dead," the Ave Maria and Stabat Mater from Verdi's "Four Sacred Pieces," Richard Strauss' tone poem "Macbeth" and the Suite from Tchaikovsky's ballet "Swan Lake."

Eckart Preu, the symphony's music director, will conduct.

The Symphony Chorale, directed by Lori Wiest, will join the symphony for the two movements from "Four Sacred Pieces."

The concert also features Honduran-born Spokane ballerina Mimi Ewers dancing Mikhail Fokine's "The Dying Swan" to Saint-Saens' music "The Swan," performed by 17-year-old Spokane cellist Joy Adams.

Four student dancers from Dodie Askegard's Theatre Ballet Leyna Swoboda, Amanda Cochrane, Kjersti Cubberley and Mami Yoshifuji will perform "The Dance of the Swans" from Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake."

Preu and the symphony's retiring concertmaster, Kelly Farris, will join host Verne Windham for a discussion of the role of the concertmaster in today's symphony orchestra at Classical Chats, the symphony's pre-performance conversation, today at 12:15 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall. The 30-minute program will be televised on City Channel 5.

Before the concert, Preu will discuss the music on the program as part of the Gladys Brooks Pre-Concert Talks series in the Opera House auditorium Friday at 7 p.m.

Spokane Symphony With the Symphony Chorale

•When: Friday, 8 p.m.

•Where: Spokane Opera House.

•Cost: $15 to $35

•Call: The symphony ticket office (509-624-1200) or TicketsWest outlets (509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com)