CSO Presents THE PLANETS - An HD Odyssey and a Unique Space Exhibit, 4/26

By: Apr. 15, 2014
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Gustav Holst didn't even know Pluto was a planet - or a dwarf planet - when he started to compose his seven-movement suite The Planets in 1914. Pluto wasn't discovered until 1930 and by that time, Holst had no interest in adding another movement to his well known work.


Each of The Planets' seven movements is titled after one of the other-earthly planets known at the time. He composed them all in order from "Mars" to "Neptune," except "Mercury," which he wrote last, although it was ultimately placed third in the suite.

Fast forward a hundred years and add a stunning visual presentation to this masterpiece. The Canton Symphony Orchestra (CSO) will present The Planets - An HD Odyssey on April 26 at 8pm. The experience and a special pre- and post-concert exhibit will be at Umstattd Performing Arts Hall located at 2323 17th Street NW in Canton.

Created by filmmaker Duncan Copp and produced by The Houston Symphony, The Planets - An HD Odyssey is a spectacular presentation of Gustav Holst's famous work. Projected in HD on a giant screen over the stage, the latest images from modern space exploration will provide a stunning visual canvas to the music of the CSO.

The video was created by Copp in cooperation with NASA and Jet Propulsion Laboratories. Copp is best known as the producer of In the Shadow of the Moon, a 2006 documentary film on the U.S.-manned missions to the moon, which was presented by Ron Howard and introduced at the Sundance Film Festival.

The New York Times raved about the Odyssey: "The images in the movie, produced and directed by Duncan Copp, were often astonishing. Photographs from rovers and satellites, radar images and computer-generated graphics were combined to give the audience the impression of circling individual planets and sometimes flying over their awesomely barren landscapes...There is, of course, a film-score-like quality to the music, and combining it with imagery has been done before, though not ... with such sophistication."

In addition to the concert experience, the CSO will host a NASA exhibit before and after the concert. The exhibit will be in the lobby of Umstattd Hall and includes spacesuits, rocket models (current and future designs), graphic displays describing NASA research and technologies, and Mars rover models.

Tickets for the April 26 concert range from $25-$45. This concert also features Mozart's Symphony No. 41 in C Major, nicknamed "Jupiter." There are senior, student and group discounts available. Dress is casual and the concert is appropriate for ages 8 and older. Tickets and the full concert season schedule are available online atCantonSymphony.org, by calling 330-452-2094, at the box office window located inside the Cultural Center for the Arts (weekdays 10am-2pm), or by walk-up before the concert.

Founded in 1937, the Canton Symphony Orchestra is a fully professional ensemble and organization dedicated to performing concerts that enrich, educate and entertain. Under the direction of Gerhardt Zimmermann, the orchestra performs classical, pops, holiday, and educational programs. Parking at Umstattd Performing Arts Hall is free.



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