Asheville Symphony Returns to First Baptist Church
The renowned orchestra’s “Masterworks 5: Carmen” concert blends modern innovation and classical elegance.
Conducted by Music Director Darko Butorac, the concert will showcase an innovative re-imagining of Georges Bizet’s opera with solo performances by Asheville Symphony Principal Flutist Lissie Shanahan and harpist Rebekah Hou.
Opening the concert is Jessie Montgomery’s “Strum!,” a vibrant work featured on “The Black Composer Speaks” concert series by Fulcrum Point New Music Project, which explores different voices within the generations of Black American composers. Montgomery, known for her dynamic contributions to contemporary classical music, infuses the piece with rhythmic vitality through intricate pizzicato textures. Echoes of folk traditions, from banjo-like strumming to bursts of fiddle-inspired melodies, create a soundscape that is both rooted in history and refreshingly modern.
“Strum!” will be followed by Mozart’s “Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra.” The rare pairing of flute and harp results in a delicate elegant interplay, with lyrical dialogues and graceful serenades. The concerto’s gentle dynamics and melodic charm highlight Mozart’s mastery in balancing contrasting timbres.
The program concludes with Rodion Shchedrin’s “Carmen Suite,” a daring reimagining of Bizet’s beloved opera. Scored for strings and an expansive array of percussion, Shchedrin’s suite deconstructs and reassembles Bizet’s iconic themes in unexpected ways. This reinterpretation, originally composed for his wife, the renowned ballerina Maya Plisetskaya, adds layers of theatricality and rhythmic intensity, creating a thrilling finale that is as provocative as it is entertaining.
Local and National Soloists
Lissie Shanahan, Principal Flutist of the Asheville Symphony since 2009, returns as a soloist alongside Rebekah Hou, an emerging talent and winner of the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) Concerto Competition.
The Asheville Symphony annually partners with the Cleveland Institute to feature Concerto Competition winners. The special partnership is made possible by Cleveland native and Asheville resident Thomas C. Bolton, with the support of the Payne Fund, a longtime and generous supporter of conservatory scholarships at CIM. “Masterworks 4: Carmen” Guest Artist Sponsors include both the Payne Fund and George and Kathy Dambach.
Performances take place at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Asheville. Tickets start at $25 for adults and $15 for youth. To purchase, visit www.AshevilleSymphony.org, call the Asheville Symphony box office at (828) 254-7046, or stop by the box office at 27 College St., Suite 100, Asheville, NC. Box office hours are Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, visit www.AshevilleSymphony.org.
