Greenville Symphony’s Winter 2012 Highlights

The Greenville Symphony Orchestra is a premier orchestra in the Upstate region and one of the finest symphonies in the Southeast. It has provided cultural opportunities in the Greenville area for more than 50 years. The symphony performs at the Peace Center Concert Hall, a state of the art performing arts center seating 2,100 in downtown Greenville. Russian-born Edvard Tchivzhel is in his 11th season with the symphony as Music Director and Conductor. Tchivzhel has been a guest conductor with prominent symphonies around the world. Here are some highlights of the 2012 winter concerts.

The concerts on February 11-12 feature two pieces by Franz Liszt, one of the greatest piano composers. In honor of Liszt’s 200th birthday, young Chinese pianist Haochen Zhang will perform Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 and Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major. Zhang won a gold medal at the prestigious 13th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at the age of 19. The evening will conclude with Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 in C major, known as his Great Symphony. Ticket prices range from $15-$49.

On March 9-11 audiences will be treated to a Chamber Orchestra Series concert. This performance will take place in the Gunter Theatre, an intimate 439-seat venue at the Peace Center. The evening will begin with Glinka’s “A Summer Night in Madrid,” followed by Rachmaninoff’s beautiful “Vocalise.” The program will continue with Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme” and conclude with Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 1, a work completed when the composer was just 15 years old.

The Masterworks Series concerts on March 24-25 will begin with a symphony by 20th century German composer Paul Hindemith entitled “Mathis der Maler” (Mathis the Artist). The program continues with Debussy’s Printemps, a work featuring piano and orchestra. The final piece will be Stravinsky’s “The Firebird Suite” (1919 version). Ticket prices range from $15-$49. To gain a better insight into the performance, ticket holders may attend pre-concert talks one hour prior to each concert in the Masterworks Series. The talks are held at Larkin’s on the River, and no reservations are required.

The Greenville Symphony strives to introduce children to classical music through its Lollipop Concerts. These short concerts are presented throughout the year in different venues in Greenville and surrounding communities such as Simpsonville and Greer. Admission is free.
The Peace Center Concert Hall is located in the heart of downtown Greenville at 300 S. Main Street, on the corner of Main and Broad Streets. Parking is available in city-owned parking garages and lots in the downtown area.

By: G. Carpenter

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

G. Carpenter is the General Manager at the Holiday Inn Express Simpsonville hotel. The Holiday Inn Express Simpsonville is located just south of Greenville and only minutes from Mauldin, Fountain Inn, Laurens, and the Greenville Zoo. The hotel located just off I-385 at exit 27 with easy access to I-85, I-185 and I-26. For more information visit: www.SimpsonvilleHotel.com