Press release from our friends in Illinois:
The 2016 Southern Illinois Music Festival Presents:
Rossini’s Opera William Tell (in 1776)
Part I: June 7 and 10; Part II: June 8 and 11
All performances at 7:30pm at the Marion Cultural and Civic
Center
The Southern Illinois Music Festival, now in its 12th
season, will present Rossini's final opera, William Tell, sung in French with
projected English supertitles, at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center June 7,
8, 10 and 11. This opera has only been produced in the United States in its
entirety three times in the last century, so this is an historic event.
Most people know William Tell's famous overture (with its
Lone Ranger theme), but the opera is full of beautiful arias, stirring ensembles
and rousing choruses. This production is set in 1776, to coincide with
Washington crossing the Delaware, on this 240th anniversary of our
Independence, and also includes all the original ballet music. The entire opera
is presented twice over two nights, June 7/8 and June 10/11. Separate admission
is required each night.
Josh Shaw, Director of the Pacific Opera Project in Los
Angeles, directs the production, which stars internationally recognized singers
including Wes Mason, in the title role, and William Davenport, singing one of
the most demanding Tenor roles in the repertoire. Other professional lead
singers come from New York to Los Angeles and points in between, along with a
40 voice chorus, 20 member ballet company, and the fabulous Southern Illinois
Music Festival Orchestra, under the musical direction of Edward Benyas.
The Festival Orchestra will also perform a grand orchestral
program of Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, including the “Eroica” Symphony and the
Double Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra, featuring violinist, Michael
Barta and cellist, Eric Lenz. The Festival will also present music by Mozart
from 1776, including his three great violin concerti, the concerto for three
pianos, the Serenata Notturno and the “Paris” Symphony. Mark your calendars for
May 31 through June 12, 2016.
The Southern Illinois Music Festival presents three-dozen professional performances of
classical music and jazz in two dozen venues throughout Southern Illinois each
June. The Festival has been nationally recognized in Symphony magazine, the premiere publication for American orchestras;
by the Chicago Tribune Travel section
as one of 24 top summer activities (musical and otherwise) in an eight-state
region; and by AAA Midwest magazine
as a Midwest Travel Treasure.
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