Through its Chesapeake Energy Casual Friday Series, the Canton Symphony Orchestra offers a door to anyone wanting to experience and understand classical music.
…œIt's a great concert for somebody to go to who wants to kind of get their feet wet in classical music,… said Michelle Mullaly, interim executive director of the Canton Symphony Orchestra.
During a one-hour concert at 7 p.m. Jan. 13, audience members will hear pieces selected and performed by husband-and-wife musicians Michael DeBruyn, cellist, and Francesca Tortorello, pianist, in Cable Recital Hall, 1001 Market St., N, Canton.
Included in the ticket price, which is $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and students, is a reception immediately following the concert during which the musicians and audience members can meet over beverages, hors d'oeuvres and desserts.
…œOne of the things I like about these concerts is that, because of the hall where we have the performance (it only seats about 150 people) the musicians do a lot of talking with the audience about the music they're playing. It's very intimate, and more relaxed. That's why it's called the …œCasual Friday Series,… Mullaly said.
DeBruyn, principal cellist in both the Akron and Canton symphony orchestras, and Tortorello, who is also a harpsichordist, selected three distinct pieces for the first concert in the series.
They will perform Ralph Vaughan Williams' …œSix Studies in English Folk Song,… César Franck's Sonata in A Major and, Astor Piazzolla's …œLe Grande Tango.…
New this year to the series, which has been ongoing for more than 20 years, is the selection process of musicians for the performances.
…œIt used to have a smaller chamber orchestra that performed …“ maybe 20 or 30 players …“ and now we've decided to do a more intimate recital series. This is the first year we're actually pulling individuals from our orchestra, so that all but two performers in this series are actually principal orchestral musicians, which means they are the best in their section,… Mullaly said.
The next concert in the Chesapeake Energy Casual Friday Series will take place Feb. 9. Preceding the Friday concert series is the Aultman Primetime Series, which take place at 1 p.m. the Thursday prior, and which includes an identical program of music to the 7 p.m. Friday performances.
Another program, geared to young children, is the Canton Symphony Orchestra's SymphonyLand 2012 Series.
On Jan. 14 at both 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., a trio of musicians will present the sounds of string instruments in an engaging, interactive way to educate children and their families about music and orchestral instruments.
Centering on the book, Bear's Busy Family, by Stella Blackstone and Debbie Harter and published by Barefoot Books, the musicians will use approachable themes to introduce children to different instruments.
The SymphonyLand Series also takes place in Cable Recital Hall. Tickets are $5. The performances are open to the public as well as to school groups.
For more information on the Casual Friday Series and SymphonyLand Series, call the Canton Symphony Orchestra at 330-452-3434 or visit the website at cantonsymphony.org.