Soloists to lead an evening of bold classical works

After a brief intermission, the orchestra will return with Richard Strauss’ “Eine Alpensinfonie” Op. 64. “’The Alpine Symphony,’ the nature symphony, was composed from 1911 to 1914 to honor Strauss’s friend and rival, Gustav Mahler, who had died,” said Gibbs. “They were great conductors as well. The impetus for Strauss to write this orchestral work was taking a long walk with friends, going up the mountain, then this incredible storm they encountered. The piece lasts about 40 minutes – it’s a continuous work, describing this process of hiking up, encountering the storm and the descent back down.”

This sort of orchestral work is narrative: “It begins with the feeling of going up, then a great storm, and ends at nighttime. Mahler had written a great deal of music associated with nature and he (Strauss) was reacting to that,” said Gibbs. “Music that tells a story – Strauss was noted for that.”

The size of the orchestra needed is one reason this is a lesser-performed work. “It’s for an enormous orchestra,” he said, “even more instruments than are normally on stage. There are spectacular orchestral effects. Partly because it calls for a big orchestra, including 12 people off stage, it’s not often done. It’s a relative rarity to hear this piece by Strauss.”

Gibbs said Botstein is a great proponent of Strauss’ music, which is part of the reason a work like “Eine Alpensinfonie” is being presented. “These series of concerts include one big piece that is taken to New York City for a series called ‘Classics Declassified,’” he explained. “They are presented twice at the college and then taken down to the city. ‘Eine Alpensinfonie’ makes for an extraordinary effect and is not performed enough.”

Tickets are $25, $30, $35 and $40. Call 845-758-7900 or visit the Fisher Center website at fishercenter.bard.edu to purchase tickets or for further information.

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