Press and News

Peninsula Symphony Plays in the Holidays!

November 21 at 8pm & November 23 at 1:30pm
at Palo Alto’s Stanford Memorial Church

27 October 2008 -- Los Altos, CA:  Embrace the holiday season with glorious music.  In continuation of its 60-year dedication to providing “Local and Live” music, the Peninsula Symphony celebrates the Holiday Season with concerts that feature the works of Brian Holmes (Peninsula Symphony musician), Bernstein, and Copland.  (www.peninsulasymphony.org)  Performances are on November 21 at 8pm & November 23 at 1:30pm at the Stanford Memorial Church.  Tickets are $20.

These concerts will mark the World Premiere of Brian Holmes' Amherst Requiem.  This is an absorbing and original composition, alternating the words of the Latin Requiem Mass, sung by the Stanford Chorus and Vivace Youth Chorus, and some of the most evocative and heartfelt poems of Emily Dickinson, sung by the magnificent San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow, soprano Heidi Melton.  “Holmes uses the sounds of a symphony orchestra, large chorus, soprano soloist, and youth chorus in a most imaginative and moving setting,” remarks Music Director and Conductor, Mitchell Sardou Klein. 

The second half of the concert features familiar works by two of the most celebrated American masters, Leonard Bernstein and his mentor Aaron Copland.  Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, written in 1965 for the Chichester Music Festival in England, focuses on six Biblical psalms (sung in the original Hebrew), centering on the famous Psalm 23.  This upbeat, even serene work, with many of the signature Bernstein trademarks, has become a favorite of his compositions among audiences and critics.

Also on the second half is Copland's elegant Quiet City, for string orchestra, trumpet and English Horn.  Written in 1940, it combines elements from his incidental music to the Irwin Shaw play by the same name.  Though the play was performed only twice and abandoned, the music has endured and been embraced as a masterpiece.

The Peninsula Symphony, a 90 member community orchestra led by music director and conductor Mitchell Sardou Klein, celebrates its 60th anniversary of providing unique and first-class music to the Bay Area community.  In addition, as part of its “Bridges to Music” outreach programs, the Symphony shares its passion for music by offering programs in schools, providing free or discounted tickets to students and their families, hosting two competitions for students, and presenting a free family concert and outdoor summer concert.  This season the Orchestra performs concerts in venues from Cupertino to San Mateo.  For tickets or more information visit www.peninsulasymphony.org or call (650) 941-5291.