The North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra perform with pianist Andreas Klein Friday night at the Gertrude C. Ford Center in Oxford. The show will present “Revolutionaries: Ginastera and Beethoven,” a concert displaying the best of two composers from different centuries and featuring commentary from Klein himself, an accomplished German pianist.
This symphony was established in Tupelo in 1971, filling a call for an all-professional symphony orchestra in a small-town area. The musicians belong to many surrounding states, and all unified in northern Mississippi for the love of music. This symphony orchestra has performed in Oxford before, as the show is local to the area. The orchestra not only performs but has also developed an outreach program to surrounding communities, encouraging a passion for music and introducing new audiences to its sound through visits and concerts.
The orchestra’s roots in northern Mississippi have not limited its impact across the entire state, however. The group has performed all over Mississippi, including concerts in Amory, New Albany and Fulton.
The group’s current music director is Steven Byess, who has held the title since 2006. The acclaimed director is a writer on PBS presentation, “Count on It!,” a passionate advocate for the arts and was the conductor of the 2000 NFL halftime show.
During this weekend’s concert, the symphony and acclaimed pianist will perform their program “Revolutionaries: Ginastera and Beethoven,” which is centered around two legendary composers who shaped generations of music. The two composers, while stylistically different, have left large impacts on the genre. The North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra will demonstrate how these composers molded their own sounds and ideas into the stanzas of their compositions. Pieces by Beethoven offer a glimpse into the Classical and Romantic eras, while Ginastera’s pieces will present a more modern performance.
The featured pianist, Andreas Klein, has been acclaimed by the New York Times as “a fascinating artist with all the indispensable qualities: temperament, taste, touch, tone, the four Ts of pianism.” He has performed worldwide, and his concert this weekend with the symphony orchestra will bring experience to the stage. Klein mentions how “themes, motives and character” are physically replicated through stanzas of music. Though the presentation showcases classical music, there are many contrasts even in the one genre.
The concert will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for Performing Arts. Tickets are available online through the Ford Center website and at the UM Box Office.
