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Expansive Soundscapes
Expansive Soundscapes
Saturday
Nov 16, 2024
7:30 PM
Sunday
Nov 17, 2024
3:00 PM
Winston-Salem Symphony
Sterling Elliott Cello
Jodi Burns Soprano
Jason McKinney Bass
Michelle Merrill Conductor
Antonín Dvořák
Cello Concerto
Program Notes
Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 3, “Espansiva”
Program Notes
Immerse yourself in a mid-autumn concert as the lyrical beauty of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, performed by the imminent Sterling Elliott, complements Nielsen’s Symphony No. 3, “Espansiva,” in a program that spans the breadth of human emotion. Dvořák’s masterpiece captivates with its soulful melodies and profound introspection, showcasing the cello’s rich sonorities and technical brilliance. Nielsen’s “Espansiva,” renowned for its expansive orchestration and innovative use of human voices, offers a contrast with its bold symphonic gestures and lyrical themes that celebrate the vitality of life.
Pre-Concert Talk
Saturday at 6:30 PM | Sunday at 2:00 PM
All audience members are invited to join us in the Judy Voss Jones Fine Arts Center, directly behind Reynolds Auditorium on its west side, for a lively discussion about the music and surrounding context. Local musicologist Dr. Carol Reynolds is your guide—pre-concert talks are free to attend, and occur one hour before any Classics Series concert.
Single tickets to this event go on sale August 1, but you can save your seat with a subscription!
Saturday
Nov 16
7:30 PM
Sunday
Nov 17
3:00 PM
Sterling Elliott, cello
Acclaimed for his stellar stage presence and joyous musicianship, cellist Sterling Elliott is a 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient and the winner of the Senior Division of the 2019 National Sphinx Competition. Already in his young career, he has appeared with major orchestras such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Jodi Burns, soprano
Jodi Burns has been described as singing with a “plush voice and rich expressivity” (The New York Times). In her appearance as Anna Sorenson in Kevin Puts’ Silent Night, (Piedmont Opera), The Winston-Salem Journal noted, “Burns dazzle[s] with her lustrous soprano and bright charisma…”
Jason McKinney, bass
Originally from Milwaukee, WI, Jason McKinney graduated from the University Of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he studied voice with soprano Marilyn Taylor and tenor Glenn Siebert, conducting with Maestro James Allbritten, and composing with Kenneth Frazelle.
Michelle Merrill, conductor
WSS Music Director Michelle Merrill served four years as the Assistant and then Associate Conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and also serves as the Music Director of the Coastal Symphony of Georgia, where she has ignited the growth and expansion of the orchestra’s offerings both on and off the stage. Ms. Merrill is a proud recipient of a 2016 Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award as well as the prestigious 2013 Ansbacher Conducting Fellowship as awarded by members of the Vienna Philharmonic and the American Austrian Foundation, which enabled her to be in residence at the world-renowned Salzburg Festival.
Venue
Reynolds Auditorium
301 N. Hawthorne Rd.
Winston-Salem, NC 27104
Rideshare and Dining
What will my view be like?
While Reynolds Auditorium’s sightlines and sound are best enjoyed in the Mezzanine, Orchestra-level seating also offers superb viewing and sound, especially in rows F through O. Please bear in mind that Reynolds Auditorium is a historic venue; there is no elevator, thus the Mezzanine and Balcony levels are only accessed via stairs. Accessible seating is available on the Orchestra level at the rear of the house and along the outside left and right.
Related Events
Music Lovers’ Luncheon
Friday, Nov 15 at Noon
Forsyth Country Club
3101 Country Club Rd., Winston-Salem
Enjoy lunch with a side of interesting conversation! Michelle Merrill discusses the work of Dvorak and Nielsen with guest cellist Sterling Elliott.
Symphony by the Glass
Thursday, Nov 14 at 5pm
The Caviste
1100 Reynolda Rd
Stop by for an afterwork glass from a selection of wines specifically paired to this week’s program! Enjoy music by WSS musicians and casual conversation with other Symphony goers. The event is free to attend; wines are available for purchase.
