Kent State University Orchestra Concert "Beauty and the Beast" Features Debussy Led by Student Conductor

The Kent State University Hugh A. Glauser School of Music Orchestra will continue its 2012-2013 season with its second subscription series performance on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 3:30 p.m. in the University Auditorium at Cartwright Hall. Cartwright Hall is located at 650 Hilltop Drive, with free parking located off of Terrace Drive.

The performance's title, "Beauty and the Best," translates into the delightful "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Fawn" by Claude Debussy and Dmitri Shostakovich's famous "Symphony No. 5."

Second-year conducting graduate student Eunseok Seo will lead the orchestra's performance of Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Fawn." The piece was inspired by the poem "L'apres-midi d'un Faune" by Stephane Mallarme.

The orchestra also will perform "Symphony No. 5" by Dmitri Shostakovich, led by music director Liza Grossman. Grossman explained that Shostakovich, one of the most important composers of the former Soviet Union, was deeply inspired by his country's political climate. 

"Although the work seems to imply a traditional symphonic narrative of crisis and final triumph, the music may not be all that it appears," Grossman said of Shostakovich's work.

Tickets for the performance are $10 for adults and seniors, $5 for students with valid ID and free for all full-time undergraduate students.

Tickets are available weekdays noon to 5 p.m. at the Performing Arts Box Office, located in the lobby of the Roe Green Center in the Music and Speech Center at 1325 Theatre Drive on the university's Kent Campus. The box office accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover, in addition to cash and check. For more ticket information, visit the Performing Arts Box Office website.

The Cartwright Hall box office will open one hour prior to the performance for walk-up sales, and will accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Tickets and more information are also available by calling 330-672-ARTS (2787) or visiting kent.edu/music.

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Photo Caption:
Liza Grossman (pictured), conductor of the 50-plus member Kent State University Hugh A. Glaser School of Music Orchestra, will turn the baton over to second-year conducting graduate student Eunseok Seo for Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Fawn." Photo by Bob Christy, Kent State University.

Media Contact:
Effie Tsengas, etsengas@kent.edu, 330-672-8398