Tehachapi Symphony Concert, May 5

The Tehachapi Symphony, directed by David Newby, will perform on Sunday, May 5. The concert begins at 4 p.m. at Country Oaks Baptist Church, located at 20915 Schout Rd. This year’s Young Artist Competition winner, B.J. Zheng, will perform Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, 1st movement.

Beethoven composed the Violin Concerto in D major which premiered on Dec. 23, 1806, just two days after Beethoven finished writing the concerto. The work was commissioned by and dedicated to music director and concertmaster of the Theater an der Wien, 21-year-old Franz Clement, who had to sight read for the opening performance. Beethoven did not write a cadenza, so Clement improvised a cadenza at the premiere.

Since then, many violinists have composed their own. The cadenza is the extended unaccompanied solo passage found at the end of the first movement where the soloist demonstrates their technical and artistic skill. Zheng has composed his own cadenza.

The Tehachapi Symphonic Chorus and director Kathy Kelly will join the symphony for Handel’s Alexander’s Feast, composed in 1736. Alexander’s Feast sets music to a narrative poem by England’s poet, John Dryden, written to celebrate Saint Cecilia’s Day. The work received its premiere at the Covent Garden Theatre in London on Feb. 19, 1736. Alexander’s Feast is set during the feast celebrating Alexander the Great’s conquest of Persia. Though the event commemorates Alexander’s strength, the musician Timotheus uses music to control the emotions of the mighty warrior. The instrumental overture encapsulates the ode’s changeable moods. The movements are majestic, exuberant, gentle, energetic and lilting, each combining recitative, aria and chorus.

Bizet’s Symphony in C (“Roma”) will also be performed. Georges Bizet composed his symphony in October and November of 1855, just four days after his 17th birthday, while studying at the Paris Conservatory. Bizet, looking to impress his teacher and mentor, incorporated a lot of similarities between his and Charles Gounod’s composition style in his symphony. The first performance was not until Feb. 26, 1935 in Basel, Switzerland, after which it became an immediate hit.

There is a reception following the concert so community members may meet the Young Artist competition winner, as well as symphony and chorus directors and members.

Admission is always free to the community. For more concert information call (661) 821-7511 or visit http://www.tehachapiorchestra.com.