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Website

http://www.garlandsymphony.org

Description

Berlioz – Overture to Beatrice and Benedict - 7'38"
The French composer Hector Berlioz wrote a number of overtures, many of which have become popular concert items. They include overtures intended to introduce operas as well as independent concert overtures.  Overture to Beatrice and Benedict was composed in 1862.

Schumann – Julius Caesar Overture - 9'
The German composer Schumann wrote almost exclusively for the piano until 1840, when he burst into song composition around the time of his marriage to Clara Wieck.

Handel – Overture to Julius Caesar in Egypt - 3'55"
Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Julius Caesar in Egypt, HWV 17), commonly known simply as Giulio Cesare, is an Italian opera in three acts written for the Royal Academy of Music by George Frideric Handel in 1724. The libretto was written by Nicola Francesco Haym.

Rossini – Variations for Clarinet and Orchestra - 12'24"
Rossini's Introduction, Theme and Variations is a standard in the Clarinet repertoire.  While there is an existing version for orchestra and Clarinet, it is both rare and expensive — a dangerous combination!  This transcription, for classical orchestra, is stylistically appropriate and is based on Rossini's own orchestration.

About the Ticket Supplier: Garland Symphony Orchestra

Since March 1978, the Garland Symphony Orchestra has been dedicated to providing performances of great orchestral music to Garland and its surrounding communities. During the span of twenty-six years, the GSO has presented over 180 concerts featuring the music of more than 200 composers, including the premieres of new works by Texas composers. The orchestra attracts an audience from Garland, Dallas, Richardson, Rowlett, Rockwall, and Sachse.

The orchestra's first season was led by violinist James Gambino; for the following two seasons, the late Howard Dunn, former conductor of the much regarded Dallas Wind Symphony, took the podium. Mischa Semanitzky took up the GSO's baton for the 1981-82 season, and was succeeded by Daniel Hornstein.

In 1986, the artistic reins of the Garland Symphony Orchestra were passed to the current Music Director, Robert Carter Austin. Under Maestro Austin's leadership, the orchestra made the transition from a group of highly dedicated volunteer musicians to a virtuoso ensemble of the finest professional instrumentalists in the DFW Metroplex. The growth to a prestigious, professional ensemble has created a solid orchestra, with a great deal of members who have been meeting new challenges and successes with the GSO for more than 10 years.

Among the many distinguished guest artists who have appeared with the Garland Symphony Orchestra are pianists James Barbagallo, Katia Skanavi, and Oleksiy Koltakov, violinists Eliot Chapo and John Thomson, guest conductor Volodymir Sirenko, Chet Atkins, the Platters, Crystal Gayle, and the Rich-Tones.