New River Valley Symphony performs first concert of the season

BLACKSBURG, Va., Nov. 3, 2010 – The New River Valley Symphony, under the direction of James Glazebrook, will perform its fall concert on Friday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. in Burruss Auditorium. The program will feature Hary Janos Suite by Zoltan Kodaly and the "New World Symphony" by Antonin Dvorak. The concert is presented by the Virginia Tech Department of Music.

The Hary Janos Suite is one of the most popular works in classical repertoire. Kodaly's Suite is extracted from the music of his Hungarian folk opera, or 'singspiel,' of the same name. Based on the story of a retired soldier in the Austrian army in the first half of the 19th century, Hary Janos sits in the village entertaining his listeners with fantastic tales of heroism.  

Antonin Dvorak composed his Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, better known as the "New World Symphony," in 1893 during his visit to the United States. The symphony was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic, and premiered on Dec. 16, 1893. It has become one of Dvorak's best known works, and the beautiful Largo movement will be familiar to many concert attendees.

The New River Valley Symphony is a university-community orchestra with approximately 80 student, faculty and community resident musicians selected through an audition process. 

Tickets are $9 general; $7 senior; $5 student and are available through the University Unions and Student Activities ticket office in Squires Student Center, by calling (540) 231-5615 or at the door one hour prior to performance. 

Free parking is available around the Drillfield with a visitor's pass from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. No pass is necessary on the Drillfield after 8 p.m. Parking is also available in Perry Street Lot 1, 3, 4, and 6, near Prices Fork Road. Find more parking information online or call (540) 231-3200. 

Virginia Tech's School of Performing Arts, a unit within the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, is comprised of the Department of Music, the Department of Theatre and Cinema, and programs and classes in dance. The school is committed to education, training, and experience in the transformative power of the performing arts. In addition to producing more than 400 student, faculty, and guest-artist events each year, the school presents the annual Summer Arts Festival and maintains the university's artist registry.