Twitter

The Washington Symphony Orchestra will open its 13th season with "Something Wicked," which will be performed on Saturday, October 11 at 8 p.m. at Trinity High School, Washington.

The concert will feature an evening of "truly terrifying and terribly fun" music, according to Yugo Ikach, WSO principal conductor and music director.

In a nod to the more mysterious and darker aspects of human nature and the universe, the WSO will perform music that explores temptation and seduction, the Day of Judgment, evil monsters, and a pact with the devil. Repertoire will include music from stage and screen as well as classical music and original compositions. Danny Elfman, Stephen Schwartz, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Giuseppe Verdi, Franz Lizst, Johann Strauss II, Graham Plowman and local composer Derek Pegritz, a recent graduate of California University of PA's Commercial Music Technology program, round out the list of composers. The orchestra will be joined by the California University Choir under the direction of Maestro Ikach for several of the pieces.

The devil fiddles as Faust seduces a young woman at a wedding feast in Lizst's "Mephisto Waltz." Both the Mozart and the Verdi versions of the "Dies Irae," a haunting chant evoking the Day of Judgment, will send chills up the spines of the audience, and in Elfman's music from the film Sleepy Hollow, the fruits of a pact with the devil eventually are realized.

'The horror film, Hellraiser, a tale of murder and blood lust, is the inspiration for Pegritz's composition. At the request of the WSO, Plowman has adapted his electronic piece, "Cthulhu Rising" (Ka-Thoo-loo), based on H.P. Lovecraft's short story, "The Call of Cthulhu," for full orchestra and chorus. In Lovecraft's story, Cthulhu is a gigantic water god, part man, part dragon and part octopus, who requires human sacrifice in order to satiate his evil appetites.

On a lighter note, Johann Strauss's Vienna Blood Waltz, familiar from the film Titanic, and music from the Broadway musical Wicked are also on the program.

An additional attraction that will thrill the audience will be the presence of zombies and other unknowable creatures. Students and faculty from Tom Savini's Special Make-Up Effects program at the Douglas Education Center in Monessen will use their artistic skills to create a cast.

The WSO is pleased to be able to present such a diverse and fascinating program which is being supported by a grant from The Heinz Endowments. The Heinz Endowments supports efforts to make southwestern Pennsylvania a premier place to live and work, a center for learning and educational excellence, and a region that embraces diversity and inclusion.

Tickets for the Washington Symphony's October 11th "Something Wicked" performance at Trinity High School at 8 p.m. are available on-line at www.washsym.org or by calling 1-888-71-TICKETS. Advance tickets are also available at Washington Financial bank branches, Citizens Library and Peters Township Public Library. Season tickets are on sale now at a significant discount by going to the website or calling 1-888-71-TICKETS.

• < Prev
• Next >