York Symphony Orchestra To Participate In Worldwide Celebration of Leonard Bernstein

The York Symphony Orchestra will present Musical Heroes on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts in York. This Classical Series Concert features a global celebration of the life and career of Leonard Bernstein, an American composer, conductor, author, music lecturer and pianist. Bernstein, who conducted some the great orchestras of the world for more than four decades, was one of the first conductors born and raised in the U.S. to achieve worldwide recognition. One of his most widely-known compositions included the score for the musical "West Side Story."

"In 2017, The Leonard Bernstein Office announced a two-year global celebration of Mr. Bernstein's life and career featuring more than 2,500 events on six continents in honor of the 100th birthday of this legendary composer and conductor," said Lawrence Golan, Conductor and Music Director of the York Symphony Orchestra. "We are honored to be a part of this celebration and dedicate our upcoming concert to the greatest hero of American music and his influence on our world as a composer, conductor, educator and humanitarian."

Musical Heroes will begin with Bernstein's Serenade (After Plato's Symposium), featuring concertmaster Denise Dillenbeck. Serenade was completed in five movements and was inspired by Plato, a hero of ancient philosophy. Seven speakers from Plato's Symposium inspired Serenade's five movements. The general lyricism and dramatic contrasts of the composition speak directly to the various expressions in praise of love.

The second half of the evening will feature Johannes Brahms' epic Symphony No. 1, which established the composer as Beethoven's successor. The Symphony took 21 years to complete, from 1855 to 1876. As early as 1877, audiences began comparing this symphony with Beethoven's works. Eventually Brahms received recognition as Beethoven's successor, the next hero of symphonic music.

The York Symphony Orchestra will present Musical Heroes on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts in York. Single tickets starting at $9 for adults and $5 for students are available online at www.YorkSymphony.org and by calling 717-846-1111.

Made up of talented professional musicians from the greater York area and beyond, the York Symphony Orchestra has been engaging audiences with outstanding orchestral music for 85 years. Performing at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts under the leadership of Music Director Lawrence Golan, the orchestra presents an eclectic mix of classical masterworks and contemporary selections. The 2018-2019 season is sponsored by PeoplesBank; the Classical Series is sponsored by W. Dale Brougher Foundation; and the Pops Series is sponsored by The Anstadt Company. The York Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to music education, offering programs to engage youth and adults. For more information on the York Symphony Orchestra, visit www.YorkSymphony.org or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YorkSymphony/.

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