The Greater Bridgeport Symphony (GBS) Ushers In Spring With Flute Fusion, March 16 at The Klein in Bridgeport, CT
March 16 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The Greater Bridgeport Symphony(GBS) will usher in the call of Spring with Flute Fusion on Saturday, March 16 at The Klein in Bridgeport, 8:00pm – get tickets HERE. The concert is the fourth installment of five in this season’s concert series, styled Building Bridges.
“All season long, we have been building bridges between cultural groups in the diverse city of Bridgeport, and between music of different eras,” says guest conductor Eduardo Leandro referring to his early training under GBS’ former Music Director of 42 years, Gustav Meier. Leandro showed the audience Meier’s own markings on the scores he used at GBS’ December concert. Leandro adds, “We’ve also been building bridges between our own past and our future. I’ve felt like Gustav Meier was on the podium with me this season; being his student was one of the great blessings in my life. I’ve also seen a great future for GBS through the eyes of the Bridgeport music students we’ve mentored that have performed alongside our professional musicians this season.”
For the remaining two shows of the season, GBS will welcome back two nationally renowned soloists and principals with the GBS family: Flutist Keith Bonner on March 16 and cellist Dr. Nicholas Hardie April 13. New York City based flutist Bonner is part of the Grammy® nominated Borealis Wind Quintet. Principal cellist Dr. Nicholas Hardie, teaches cello, chamber music, and advanced performance techniques at CT’s Greenwich Suzuki Academy.
“It’s testimony to the wealth of talent GBS has in its own family,” says GBS President Mark Halstead. The March 16 concert will showcase Bonner’s virtuosity with Debussy’s “Afternoon of a Faun” and Schubert’s “Symphony Number 5,” featuring a beautiful flute solo. “The Faun is one of those emotional, lyrical pieces that just about everyone knows. Seasoned symphony-goers will be excited to hear it played, and newcomers will recognize its themes immediately,” adds Halstead. “Schubert’s Symphony Number 5 is a gem, where the 19-year-old Schubert breaks from Beethoven’s influence; it’s lively, fresh tone is the perfect signal for spring, and its beautiful flute sections tie it to the other pieces in the program.” Schubert’s “Symphony Number 5” remains to this day one of his most popular works.
In addition to these amazing musical experiences, the concert will highlight acclaimed composer, violinist, and educator Jessie Montgomery’s “Coincident Dances.” She is the recipient of the Leonard Bernstein Award from the ASCAP Foundation and the Sphinx Medal of Excellence. The concert will also showcase Paul Schoenfield’s “Klezmer Rondos,” another composition showing the magic of the flute. Composed in 1989, Schoenfield integrated the traditional sounds of Ashkenazi Jewish celebrations with full orchestration. “Growing up with Klezmer music surrounding my family’s joyful traditions and gatherings signified an emotional expression of our musical culture,” says GBS Executive Director Phyllis Cortese.
The music of this concert is relatively young – two 20th-century pieces (1937 and 1989) and one from the late 19th. “We are seeing a trend at GBS concerts with many young families discovering classical music for the first time, creating a unique, memorable, bonding experience that bridges the generations through music,” says Cortese.
The March 16 concert is sponsored by the family of Jennifer C. Moorin, who passed away in January. Along with her husband, retired local attorney Herbert Moorin (a longtime Trustee of GBS), Jennifer was a prominent supporter and ardent worker in many local charities. “Jennifer was a bright light at GBS for decades,” says GBS Chairman of the Board Doris Harrington. “We are saddened by her loss but know that her spirit is well-expressed in Schubert’s Symphony No. 5 we’ll be dedicating and performing in her honor in March.”
Tickets for the December 16 show range from $18.00 to $65.00 and are available at www.GBS.org/tickets or by calling (203)576-0263. GBS offers special Family Pack Deals where tickets for kids under 19 are $10.00, any seat in the house, and accompanying adults get 15% off their tickets. Those are available by calling (203)576-0263.
