While audiences can expect to hear some of their favorite holiday classics at LCCO's "Overture to Christmas" concerts on Saturday, Dec. 3, Music Director Vincent Povázsay hopes to gently challenge people's perceptions of what traditional concert programming looks and sounds like.
"We love playing the well-known hymns and popular tunes included in this program, but we're also bringing two pieces to the stage that are new for the orchestra and likely the audience as well," says Povázsay.
The first is an arrangement of the hauntingly beautiful "Ave Maria." This 16th century melody was not particularly well known until contemporary artists such as Andrea Bocelli and Charlotte Church began performing it.
The second new piece is “Weihnachts Overtüre” - or "Christmas Overture" - by 19th century German composer and conductor Otto Nicolai. Nicolai is most famous for his opera based on William Shakespeare’s play "The Merry Wives of Windsor." His “Weihnachts Overtüre” was inspired by a hymn on the Nativity of Jesus written by Martin Luther in 1534.
"This is a very German, classic carol that runs about 10 minutes in length," says Povázsay. "The audience may not be as familiar with it, but it's a beautiful piece of music and we're happy to be sharing it with the Sanford community."
The two performances of "Overture to Christmas" are scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3 at 3:00 and 7:30 pm at The Mann Center in Sanford. LCCO concerts are FREE and open to the public. Door prizes by Big Bloomers Flower Farm.
The Program
The Star-Spangled Banner - John Stafford Smith (1750-1836)
From the Realms of Glory! A Holiday Fanfare - Traditional arr. Patrick Roszell
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! - Jule Styne (1905-94) arr. Charles Sayre
There’s Christmas in the Air - arr. Carl Strommen
O, Christmas Time! - Matt Correia (b. 1993)
Ave Maria - Giulio Caccini (1551-1618) arr. Jeffrey E. Turner
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-47) arr. Ted Ricketts
Christmas Fantasy - arr./orch. Dan Goeller
Weihnachts Overtüre (Christmas Overture) after the Chorale “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her” (“From Heaven to Earth/Come”) - Otto Nicolai (1810-49)
Sleigh Ride - Leroy Anderson (1908-75)
