PORTLAND — The Portland Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the cello with its Tuesday Classical “Cello-bration!” concert on Oct. 30 at Merrill Auditorium. Featured will be compositions by Antonio Vivaldi, David Ott, Gioachino Rossini, and Dmitri Shostakovich.

The program, conducted by PSO Music Director Robert Moody, opens with  Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Cellos. This piece calls for two solo cellos, which will be performed by guest artists Joel Noyes and Brian Thornton. Noyes is a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and is the son of two PSO musicians, Richard and Clorinda Noyes. Thornton plays cello for the Cleveland Orchestra.

The Concerto for Two Cellos by Ott is next, followed by Rossini’s popular William Tell Overture. Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 1, the most famous of his symphonies, rounds out the program.

The performance will be at 7:30 p.m. with a Concert Conversation with the artists beforehand at 6:15 p.m. and a PostConcert with the artists on-stage after the show. The concert will be broadcast on the Maine Public Broadcasting Network at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14.

As part of the “Cello-bration!” there will be a free cello choir performance at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, also at Merrill Auditorium. This is an all-volunteer cello choir of all ages and ability; the concert is open to the public.

For “Cello-bration!” concert tickets, $35-$70, call 842-0800 or visit www.porttix.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., between noon and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Copy the Story Link