The chamber orchestra Sinfonia da Camera is in concert Saturday night at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. The program starts at 7:30 p.m.
The concert is titled “Melodies and Mallets,” and features two of the orchestra’s principal musicians as soloists. Bassoonist Henry Skolnick will perform Weber’s Hungarian Fantasy for Bassoon and Orchestra, and percussionist William Moersch will be featured in Koppel’s first Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra.
Illinois Public Media’s Brian Moline got a preview of Saturday night’s concert with Sinfonia’s music director and conductor Ian Hobson, who says the concert starts with a selection from composer Arnold Bax.
Brian Moline talks with Sinfonia da Camera Music Director and Conductor Ian Hobson.
“I’ve wanted to do this for many years,” Hobson said. “These pieces are ‘Three Pieces for Small Orchestra.’ The first one is ‘Evening Piece,’ the second one ‘Irish Landscape,’ and the third one ‘Dance in the Sunlight.’ They’re really not well known at all, but they’re beautifully written.”
Hobson said both the Bax and the final piece on the program, Schubert’s Symphony No. 5, are perfect for a chamber orchestra like Sinfonia da Camera.
“It is written in a very concise way, almost Mozartian,” Hobson said. “One of the most beautiful pieces that you’ve ever heard.”
Hobson said that he and Henry Skolnick will perform a few selections from the Weber Hungarian Fantasy in the lobby at Krannert Center just before Saturday’s concert at 6:40pm.
