About

PRESENTS

THE GREATS FEATURING PIANIST STEWART GOODYEAR

February 19 & 20 at 8:00 p.m. | Long Center

Need a Valentine's gift for that special someone or need to treat yourself? Your Austin Symphony Orchestra will return to the live concert hall at the Long Center for the Performing Arts with The Greats, an evening featuring three amazing works by George Walker, William Grant Still and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky!

The evening begins with George Walker's Lyric for Strings which was dedicated to the composer's grandmother. Written in 1946, this work was premiered that year under the title Lament by the student orchestra of the Curtis Institute of Music conducted by Seymour Lipkin in a radio concert.  In the following year it received its public premiere by the National Gallery Orchestra conducted by Richard Bales as part of an annual American music festival in Washington.

Next, the ASO will perform American composer, William Grant Still's Symphony No. 5, Western Hemisphere.  Still composed nearly 200 works, including five symphonies and nine operas. Still said his Symphony No. 5 was dedicated to the sharing of resources and achievements. This amazing piece has syncopated rhythms, lush melodies, beautiful color and the ending has a spectacular sound to it. Mr. Still was the first African American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, the first to have a symphony (his 1st Symphony) performed by a leading orchestra, the first to have an opera performed by a major opera company, and the first to have an opera performed on national television.

After intermission, the ASO concludes the evening with Tchaikovsky's popular Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 23. Accomplished American pianist, Stewart Goodyear will be performing this magnificent piece. It is one of the most popular of Tchaikovsky's compositions and among the best known of all piano concerti.

PROGRAM:

GEORGE WALKER: Lyric for Strings
WILLIAM GRANT STILL: Symphony No. 5, Western Hemisphere
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1 in b-flat minor, Op 23

TICKETS ON SALE SOON!

Event Details

• Date: February 19 & 20
• Time: 8:00 p.m.
• Venue: Long Center for the Performing Arts
• Website: https://www.stewartgoodyearpiano.com/

Ticket Information

Presenter Details

• Name: Austin Symphony Orchestra

Founded in 1911, the Austin Symphony Orchestra is Austin’s oldest performing arts group. The ASO offers a complete season of musical and educational programming. Masterworks concerts include a series of eight concert pairs running monthly September through May in the state-of-the-art Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts. Our season also features the Sarah & Ernest Butler Pops Series: October & February Pops at the Long Center and December & June Pops at Palmer Events Center. Programming for the entire family includes the Halloween Children’s Concert, and the Christmas in the Community, as well as the popular James C. Armstrong Youth Educations Programs, which include Children’s Day Art Park, Young People’s Concerts, High School Concert Tour and a variety of other school programs.

Acknowledging that there is no way to be certain that large concert halls will be safe by fall for patrons, musicians and staff, the Austin Symphony announced that its concerts now scheduled from September though December will be presented virtually.

Some concerts — such as Handel’s ‘Messiah’ and other big pieces — have been moved to January and beyond. Meanwhile, starting at the end of December, audience members will have the options of returning to the Long Center for the Performing Arts or continuing with online performances.

Venue Details