What makes a classic? And what makes it timeless?
Lake County Symphony Orchestra will be presenting some prime examples at its annual “Timeless Classics” concert at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Village Church of Gurnee.
“The concert has always been a celebration of major symphonic repertoire because the orchestra does such a variety of pops, patriotic, children’s and Broadway music,” said Ron Arden, the orchestra’s artistic director and conductor. “We wanted to show that we are happy to do all that but also play great ‘classical’ stuff.”
He said the music on these concerts is timeless because it is beloved by players, conductors and audiences over a long period of time.
“It sticks — a Rolls-Royce is ‘classic’ because the machinery is perfect, the design flawless and the cost high; Gucci is ‘classic’ because the design appeals on every level and is simple, elegant and sophisticated,” Arden explained. “In other words — no fads. There are fads in music — we won’t go there.”
In the spirit of that, the program features two enduring classical works: Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Don Giovanni Overture” and Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 4.”
“Mozart and Tchaikovsky are two of the most studied composers of all symphonic literature,” Arden said. “Their genius revolves around their ability to understand every single instrument — its color, nuance, range and place in the overall sound.”
They are masters for good reason.
“Their writing never buries anyone but always makes sure each line is heard, and the result is amazingly gratifying all around, from listener to performer,” Arden said. “These two works are both significant famous pieces (representing) the very broad output of each man.”
Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” is a two-act opera that premiered in 1787.
“Any Mozart overture is brilliant, but ‘Don Giovanni’ is my favorite because the intro is dark and pounding and heavy — a foretaste of the opera story, which is tragic and foreboding,” Arden said. “That intro spills into one of Mozart’s happy and joyous moments because he always finds a way to express diverse emotions, and the opera has both. It is seven minutes of spectacular music showing off the orchestra and Mozart at his best.”
Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 4? debuted nearly a century later in 1878.
“Tchaikovsky is a troubled soul — always — he looks for joy but never fully finds it,” Arden said. “He dabbles in exhilaration but always returns to sadness.”
Interestingly, however, “Symphony No. 4? ends with a “raucous and passionate” moment of joy.
“The first two movements are sad, dreamy and passionate,” Arden said. “The third movement features brilliant woodwind solos bookended by strings playing all plucked notes — like a guitar — they literally never use their bows in this movement.”
Pairing Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” with Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 4? makes for some captivating listening.
“Putting these two works together says so much about their lives, their sameness, even though they are from very different times and worlds, and the colorful display of emotion through music,” Arden said.
Through concerts like this one, he hopes more audiences discover Lake County Symphony Orchestra.
“I want people to come that have never heard us, and I want them to come back,” Arden said. “While they are there, I want them to see and hear people who care and want to play great musical art.”
The orchestra’s next concert is “A Celebration of Classical Jazz,” set for April 23 at the Village Church of Gurnee.
Lake County Symphony Orchestra’s ‘Timeless Classics’ Concert
When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26
Where: Village Church of Gurnee, 1319 Hunt Club Road
Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Children 12 and under are free
Information: 847-746-3472; lakecountysymphonyorchestra.com
Jen Banowetz is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
