Orchestra to present Berlioz masterpiece

The Skidmore College Orchestra will assume the greatest musical challenge in its 34-year history on Thursday, April 28, when it presents the iconic romantic orchestral work "Symphony Fantastique" by Hector Berlioz at the final program of the orchestra season.

The performance is scheduled at 8 p.m. in the Arthur Zankel Music Center, Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall. Tickets are available online at skidmore.edu/zankel/

Considered one of the greatest orchestra composers of all time, Berlioz literally wrote the book on what composers needed to know in order to write effectively for the symphony orchestra. Pairing his knowledge and skill in orchestration with daring and original ideas, Berlioz created a symphonic work considered both important and challenging to perform.

With five distinctive movements, "Symphonie Fantastique" has become known as the world's most important piece of “program music” for symphony orchestra. The 'program' refers to the story represented by the musical notes—a tale of love, missed opportunity, loss, and death. A highlight of the Skidmore program is a mother-daughter harp duo by faculty member Elizabeth Huntley and Katherine Federiconi.

The orchestra is under the direction of Anthony Holland, associate professor of music, who calls the Berlioz piece, “delightful, amazing, and at times, terrifying.”

Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and Skidmore community members, and free for students and children. Tickets may be reserved at https://www.skidmore.edu/zankel/ or by contacting the Zankel Music Center box office via email or at 518-580-5321.