City orchestra to explore ‘Elements of Fantasia’ on May 17

MADISON – Madison City Community Orchestra will blend classical music in homage to the world of Walt Disney in their “Elements of Fantasia” concert on May 17.

The orchestra will present their concert in Zompa Auditorium at Bob Jones High School at 7 p.m.

Admission is free to the concert, which will interest all ages and offer family entertainment, orchestra director Sandy Weisner said.

From the movie, for “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” by Johannes Sebastian Bach, live-action shots of the orchestra illuminate in blue and gold, backed by superimposed shadows, Weisner said. Animated lines, shapes and cloud formations reflect the music’s sound and rhythms.

Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” features the changing of the seasons and excerpts from “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” “Waltz of the Flowers,” “March of the Nutcracker” and “Trepak.” During “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” by Paul Dukas, the young apprentice, Mouse, attempts his master’s magic tricks but cannot control them.

“‘Rite of Spring’ by Igor Stravinsky is a visual history of the Earth’s beginnings. The sequence progresses from the planet’s formation to the first living creatures, followed by the reign and extinction of the dinosaurs,” Weisner said. “Pastoral Symphony” by Ludwig van Beethoven is set in “a mythical Greco-Roman” festival to honor Bacchus, the god of wine.”

Amilcare Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours” is a comic ballet in four sections: Madame Upanova and her ostriches — Morning; Hyacinth Hippo and servants — Afternoon; Elephanchine and her bubble-blowing elephant troupe — Evening; and Ben Ali Gator and his troop — Night.

In the rousing “Night on Bald Mountain” by Modest Mussorgsky, the devil Chernabog awakes and summons evil spirits and restless souls from their graves to Bald Mountain.

The finale finds all characters dancing until their palace collapses. “It’s all about the struggle between light and dark that Fantasia represents, albeit in a very bizarre way,” Weisner said.

“In addition to the Fantasia concert, we will be presenting the 2019 Scholarship Awards to graduating seniors or current college students. This meets our mission of supporting fine arts education,” Weisner said.

“Coming up this summer is our ‘Conductor’s Showcase Concert: Made in America’ with the Madison City Youth Orchestra and us playing patriotic and other favorites. The concert will be held on July 5 at 6 p.m. at Madison United Methodist Church,” Weisner said.