The MSU College of Music’s Wind Symphony, the university’s premier band ensemble conducted by Director of Bands Kevin Sedatole, will perform John Corigliano’s Symphony No. 3 “Circus Maximus” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at Wharton Center for Performing Arts.
The Wind Symphony will be performing the same program at an upcoming concert in New York’s Carnegie Hall on Feb. 22, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the premiere of Corigliano’s work, which has been described as monumental and extraordinary.
“This concert represents a musical celebration of one of America’s most iconic composers,” says Sedatole. “John Corigliano is at the summit of the composition world. It is an honor to present the 10th anniversary performance of his monumental Circus Maximus as well as his epic song cycle Mr. Tambourine Man.”
Award-winning composer Corigliano has written some of the richest, unusual and most celebrated bodies of work to be released within the past 40 years. His music has been described as the perfect harmony of traditional and innovative, earning him a Pulitzer Prize, the Grawemeyer Award and four Grammy Awards. His works have been performed and recorded by many prominent orchestras, soloists and chamber musicians throughout the world.
“Circus Maximus,” a symphony for large wind ensemble, was first performed in 2004. Named for the Roman arena where up to 300,000 spectators watched chariot races and brutal battles, Corigliano focused his work on the parallels between the volatile entertainment of Roman days and the TV violence and harsh reality shows of present times. According to the composer, he built this work “to embody and to comment on this massive and glamorous barbarity.”
The 60-member Wind Symphony is the university’s premier band ensemble made up of the most outstanding wind, percussion, keyboard and harp majors in the College of Music who are selected by audition. Tickets for the Wharton Center performance are available at the Wharton Box Office or at the door.