The Winston-Salem Symphony Presents Edgar Meyer & The New World
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (February 1, 2024) – Winston-Salem Symphony Music Director Michelle Merrill leads the orchestra in a Program entitled “Edgar Meyer & The New World” on Saturday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 3, at 3:00 p.m. Merrill is joined by genre-defying bassist Edgar Meyer.
Merrill programmed the March concert to highlight American sounds and music. The program starts with Jessie Montgomery’s Strum. Montgomery originally wrote the piece for a cello quintet before it evolved into an all-strings number. Audiences can expect pizzicato sounds of plucking and a nod to fiddling.
Edgar Meyer makes his Winston-Salem debut with two works highlighting his ability to bridge the classical and bluegrass genres. Meyer begins with the classical Concerto No. 2 for Double Bass by Giovanni Bottesini before moving on to his own Concerto No. 1. Myer’s concerto delivers a folksy, fiddling feeling that stays true to the three-part form typical of classical concertos. Meyer notes, “Most of the music I’ve become interested in is hybrid in its origins.”
The concert’s second half features Czech composer Antonin Dvořák’s most popular work, Symphony No. 9. “From the New World” was inspired by the folk music the composer encountered when he lived in the United States from 1892 – 1895. Dvořák wove elements of Native American and African American Melodies, giving the piece a uniquely American character.
The concerts occur at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, and at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, at R.J. Reynolds Auditorium, 301 N. Hawthorne Road. Tickets start at $29 and can be purchased online at wssymphony.org or by calling the Box Office at (336) 464-0145.
The public is invited to several opportunities to interact with Michelle Merrill and performers throughout the week leading up to the concert. First up, Symphony by the Glass returns to The Caviste, 1100 Reyolds Road, on Thursday, February 29, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and provides an opportunity to be serenaded by Symphony musicians while learning about the music on the weekend’s concerts by tasting wines paired with each composition.
Patrons are also invited to the Symphony’s Music Lovers’ Luncheons. These fun and informative pre-concert events occur the Friday before each 2023-24 Classics Series concert from 12:00-1:30 p.m. Attendees can learn about the weekend’s programming while enjoying a gourmet lunch. The March 1 Music Lovers’ Luncheon will include a discussion between Michelle Merrill and Edgar Meyer. Participants will gain insights into the music presented and learn more about the performers’ careers and backgrounds. Music Lovers’ Luncheons are $30 per person, and advanced registration is required. Visit wssymphony.org/luncheon for more information and to make a reservation. This season’s luncheons occur at Founders Restaurant in the historic Shaffner Inn located at 150 Marshall Street, SW, just south of Salem Parkway.
Finally, the audience can mingle with Merrill, Meyer, and orchestra members immediately following the Saturday performance at The Remedy Café & Bar, 429 West End Boulevard.
About the Winston-Salem Symphony
Proud to be one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded regional orchestras, the Winston-Salem Symphony premiered in 1947. Today, under the direction of new Music Director Michelle Merrill, the Symphony fulfills its mission to “Bring Music to Live” by inspiring listeners of all ages throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad with various concerts, education programs, and community engagement initiatives each year.
This concert and the Winston-Salem Symphony are supported by Season Presenting Sponsors Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A.; Symphony Chorus Sponsors, AM Erectors; Chris and Mike Morykwas; the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County; and the North Carolina Arts Council.
Subscriptions and single tickets can be purchased online at wssymphony.org or by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145.
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