March 29, 2024
Annapolis, US 46 F

Londontowne Symphony Orchestra Closes Season With Prevailing Pioneers

The Londontowne Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Anna Binneweg, will close its season on June 12 at the South River High School auditorium in Edgewater at 3:00PM, and all of the well-liked, powerful, pioneering music was written by composers who exuded vision, triumph, and perseverance throughout their careers.

The opening selection is Mikhail Glinka’s Overture to Russlan & Lyudmilla.  Glinka was the first Russian composer to gain wide recognition within his own country, and is often regarded as the father of Russian classical music. Glinka’s compositions were an important influence on future Russian composers who took Glinka’s lead and produced a distinctive Russian style of music.

The program will continue with William Bloomquist playing Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 with the orchestra. Saint-Saëns began his musical career as a musical pioneer, introducing to France the symphonic poem and championing the radical works of Liszt and Wagner at a time when Bach and Mozart were the norms.

The concert concludes with Dmitri Shostakovich’s evocative and controversial Symphony No. 5. Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century. Shostakovich, one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century, achieved fame in the Soviet Union, and later had a complex and difficult relationship with the Stalinist bureaucracy. Shostakovich’s music was officially denounced twice, and was periodically banned. Nevertheless, he also received accolades and state awards and even served in the Soviet government. Despite the official controversy, his works prevailed and remain popular and well received.

Mr. Bloomquist has performed in many of the nation’s major concert halls, including the Kennedy Center, Boston’s Jordan Hall and New York City’s Merkin Concert Hall.  His international touring has included Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal, Russia, Spain and Venezuela. The Washington Post has described his playing as “sparkling,” “breathtaking,” and “demonstrating an exquisite sense of vocal phrasing.”.  About the Second Piano Concerto Mr. Bloomquist says, “This concerto is indeed a crowd pleaser and is the most performed of five Saint-Saens piano concertos.  The writing for the piano is brilliant and the interplay between the piano and orchestra is masterful.   It is as fun to play as it is to listen to.  I am looking forward to the concert  and collaborating with the orchestra and our wonderful conductor.”

Anna Binneweg, the orchestra’s Music Director and Conductor, is one of the cover conductors for the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC and also directs the Anne Arundel Community College Symphony where she also serves as Assistant Professor of Music. Buzz Stillinger, the orchestra’s principle cellist says, “Anna challenges the instrumentalists and brings a level of quality and professionalism to the LSO performances that is immediately evident”.

Tickets are $15 ($10 for seniors). Tickets and information can be obtained at www.londontownesymphonyorchestra.org or at (410) 562-8920. Tickets will also be available at the door.

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