The UC Davis Symphony Orchestra will present a concert of two contemporary works, including one in its U.S. premiere, at 8 p.m. Thursday (April 21) in Jackson Hall at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. The concert will be in person (with discounted tickets available) and livestreamed (free).
AT A GLANCE
- WHAT: UC Davis Symphony Orchestra
- WHEN: 8-9 p.m. Thursday, April 21
- WHERE
- In person: Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts
- Livestream (free)
- DISCOUNTED TICKETS: $12 for adults, $6 for students and youth
- Online — Use Promo Code OSCAR
- By phone — 530-754-2787
- In-person — noon-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday
In its program titled “Effects and Dances,” the orchestra will premiere French-Argentinian composer Oscar Strasnoy’s Kuleshov, a piano concerto. The composition is a lively dialogue between the orchestra and the piano and is inspired by the Kuleshov effect, an editing technique in film named after Lev Kuleshov (1899-1970). The process demonstrates one repeated image (or, in this case, musical motive) taking on different meanings based on the contrasting images (in this case, musical antecedents).
Kuleshov features pianist Ryan McCullough, who has been a soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Toronto Symphony and has appeared at major festivals and concert halls around the world.
Also being performed is Peruvian composer Jimmy López Bellido’s Fiesta! Four Pop Dances for Orchestra. The work draws on academic compositional techniques, Latin-American music, Afro-Peruvian music and contemporary pop music.
The orchestra is directed and conducted by Christian Baldini, professor of music and Barbara K. Jackson Chair in Orchestral Conducting.
Next performances
- UC Davis Sinfonietta (with members of the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra) — Three world premieres plus György Ligeti’s Chamber Concerto for 13 Instrumentalists. 7-8:15 p.m. Friday, May 13, Recital Hall, Pitzer Center. Tickets: $24 adults, $12 students and children. Livestream free.
- UC Davis Symphony Orchestra: “Twilights” — Richard Wagner, Rienzi Overture; Johann Strauss, ”Mein Herr Marquis” from Die Fledermaus, with Tiara Abraham, soprano; Jan Koetsier, Allegro con brio from Concertino, op. 77, with Alex Rossi, tuba; David Felder, Die Dämmerungen (West Coast premiere); and Carl Maria von Weber, Overture to Der Freischütz. Abraham and Rossi are winners of the orchestra’s 2022 Concerto Competition. 7-9 p.m. Saturday May 21, Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets: $24 adults, $12 students and children. Livestream free.