MANSFIELD – The Mansfield community can experience the stunning talent and artistry of the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra at a free concert on Sept. 21.
Open to all and admission is free, Classical Mansfield will open the Symphony’s 94th season, following the hugely popular inaugural event in 2023 that drew 1,100 attendees. Thanks to the generosity of the Gorman Donor-Advised Fund of the Richland County Foundation, admission to this one-time performance is free.
The evening’s program includes four powerful symphonic works designed to captivate and inspire: “Soul Force” by contemporary composer Jessie Montgomery, Debussy’s imaginative “La Mer,” Ravel’s provocative “Bolero,” and Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto with MSO Concertmaster Victor Beyens. As part of the OhioHealth Symphony Series, the performance will be led by esteemed MSO Music Director and Conductor Octavio Más-Arocas. Tickets are free and can be reserved now at the Renaissance box office, by phone, and online at www.rentickets.org.
In “Soul Force,” the rich rhythms of big band jazz, funk, hip-hop and R&B pay tribute to the cultural legacy of African-American music and its lasting impact. MSO concertmaster Victor Beyens takes the stage as guest musician in this stirring one-movement piece that symbolizes the tireless struggle of a voice rising above the chains of oppression.
The program continues with Sergei Prokofiev’s “Violin Concerto No. 1, op. 19, in D major”, a piece that was once performed at the same time as Igor Stravinsky’s conducting debut in 1923, followed by Claude Debussy’s “La Mer”, a field of tension in orchestral colors that has become one of Debussy’s most popular works.
The program is rounded off by Maurice Ravel’s iconic “Bolero,” one of the composer’s last and most famous works, and generally considered one of the most powerful and dramatic.
Whether you’re new to the world of orchestral music or a seasoned symphony lover, this casual concert offers attendees an incredible opportunity to experience the symphony for free. Guests are also invited to stop by the venue’s signature Ghostlight Lounge from 6:30-7:30 p.m. to participate in a pre-show gathering.
For sponsorship opportunities for the concert and reception, please contact Maddie Penwell, [email protected].
