A special season finale to the Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2019-20 MasterWorks Season will be presented next month at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea.
At 2 p.m. March 22, the orchestra presents “Literature Comes to Life,” a fascinating blend of contemporary film scores and timeless classics; all inspired by some of the most celebrated works in literature.
The performance will open with the overture to Carl Maria von Weber’s opera “Die Freischutz” (The Marksman), which depicts the adventures of characters from “Gespensterbuch” (Ghost Book), a collection of tales taken from German legend and fantasy.
Music by two American composers will also be featured during the performance: “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings” Symphonic Suite, composed by Howard Shore and arranged by John Whitney, which was inspired by J.R. Tolkien’s novels, and “Thoreau Contemplates Eternity at Walden Pond,” by David Stern, an ethereal musical tribute to the mystical heritage of Henry David Thoreau, author of the iconic American novel “Walden’s Pond.”
The program also includes the much loved “Romeo and Juliet” Fantasy Overture from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet, which is based on William Shakespeare’s literary masterwork. And finally, Maurice Ravel’s “Mother Goose” Suite brings to life characters such as Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, and Tom Thumb from the Mother Goose fairy tales. It is a fantastic close to the Philharmonic’s concert season that has taken audiences to wondrous places in their minds and souls.
“In human cultural history, there are many types of art forms, including physical (painting, sculpting, dance), music, and literature. Literature is so closely tied to the other types of art forms that finding inspiration from it comes fairly quickly and easily,” said Artistic Director and Conductor Brian Dollinger.
Dollinger believes that literature shapes our history and perception of the world and the times in which we live, and looking back in history, some of the most prolific and influential authors made a significant impact on the classical music world.
“Composers were inspired by what they read, as well as frequently utilizing the author’s ideas to help create new art forms within classical music. Authors such as Shakespeare and the Brothers Grimm have entertained and influenced readers and audiences for hundreds of years,” he added. “More modern authors such as Thoreau and Tolkien have had a big cultural impact in more recent times. This concert will bring some of their inspirations to life through symphonic music.”
Tickets for “Literature Comes to Life” are $54/$44/$32/$20 and may be purchased online at www.kamuelaphil.org, or through the Kahilu Theatre Box Office by calling 885-6868, or visiting in person at 67-1186 Lindsey Road, from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
The Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing live, high-quality orchestral music to audiences on Hawaii Island.
For more information, visit www.kamuelaphil.org.