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TUCSON, Ariz. – The Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra is about to embark on its second trip to China. On Dec. 22, the orchestra will present a preview of the American, European and Chinese music they’re taking to the other side of the globe.
The concert is a fundraiser to help offset the expenses of getting the orchestra to China. The preview concert and tour will be conducted by Music Director Linus Lerner.
SASO musicians will depart for China on Dec. 26 and return on Jan. 4. Concerts are scheduled in Wenzhou and Lishui in the Zhejiang province south of Shanghai with the possibility of an additional concert in Nanjing in the Jiangsu.
Guest artists traveling with the orchestra include mezzo soprano Kristin Dauphinais and Larry Leung playing the traditional Chinese instrument the Guzheng. Both have soloed with SASO previously.
While touring, the orchestra will be joined by musical colleagues that Lerner has worked with in Houston, where he is artistic director of the Bayou City Performing Arts choruses, and from his native Brazil, where he now conducts the Symphony Orchestra of Rio Grande do Norte, in Natal.
Lerner said, “Many institutions in U.S. are recognizing China today as the place for classical music-making – including the New York Philharmonic, whichjust established a partnership with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.
Many other orchestras are traveling there and many festivals are happening in partnership with American music institutions. SASO is proud not only for being be ahead of its time for projects like this as a community orchestra, but also for being in consonance with the aspirations of major musical institutions in the U.S. and abroad.”
This special China preview concert will be presented at 7:30 p.m. at the Desert View Performing Arts Center at 39900 S. Clubhouse Dr. in SaddleBrooke, just north of the town of Catalina.
Tickets are $21 in advance and may be ordered from the SaddleBrooke box office at 825-5318 or by visiting http://tickets.saddlebrooketwo.com. Subject to availability, they many also be sold at the door for $23.
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