Erie Philharmonic Welcomes Spring with Magic of the Guitar
Worldwide guitar virtuoso woos with Rodrigo concerto
SATURDAY, MAR. 15
The Erie Philharmonic is celebrating the return of spring with Magic of the Guitar featuring celebrated classical guitarist Miloš Karadaglić performing Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo. Alongside the concerto, the concert will feature Leonard Bernstein's On The Waterfront suite (from the 1954 Marlon Brando film), and Robert Schuman's Symphony No. 1.
"Delve into Bernstein's thrilling On the Waterfront suite, a musical journey reflecting the film's powerful narrative. The evening sparkles with the renowned Miloš' guitar virtuosity, enchanting the audience," the Erie Philharmonic describes. "This concert blends cinematic intensity, exquisite guitar mastery, and symphonic beauty."
Schuman began to compose symphonic music in the 1840s, branching out from a repertoire consisting primarily of piano and vocal music at the encouragement of his wife and fellow composer Clara Schuman. Written over two months, Schuman's First Symphony premiered on March 31, 1841 with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra under the direction of Felix Mendelssohn. The composition became known as the "Spring Symphony" due to Schuman's inspiration from the seasons and German poetry.
On The Waterfront, starring Marlon Brando, remains the only film score Bernstein ever composed. He initially declined to score the film but eventually accepted due to the promise of financial reward and critical acclaim, with recordings starting in April of 1954 before the film premiered in July. The process was unfavorable for Bernstein due to a lack of creative control over the music in the final edit. Reworking the score into a symphonic suite, he premiered his revised work in August 1955 at Tanglewood and the Hollywood Bowl.
Rodrigo took inspiration from the Royal Palace of Aranjuez in Spain for the concerto as he composed the piece in 1939. Concierto de Aranjuez premiered on Nov. 9, 1940 in Barcelona, with Spanish classical guitarist Regino Sainz de la Maza as soloist. Miloš, who will step into that role with the Erie Philharmonic, has performed worldwide with the London Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra, becoming known for his revolutionary approach to classical guitar and helping to revive its popularity over the past decade. Originally from Montenegro, he moved to London to attend the Royal Academy of Music and continues to advocate for music education and artistic excellence.
7:30 p.m. // Warner Theatre, 811 State St. // $17-$61 // For tickets and info: eriephil.org
