The 2009-2010 season will open with a lively program that Christopher Zimmerman describes as slightly "self-indulgent."  "These are some of my favorite pieces to conduct," he admits.  The first half of the program contrasts two giants, Bernstein, an American, and Elgar, who was British.  For the second half of the program, the orchestra will play Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, a tour de force for any orchestra, due to its expanded instrumentation.  Bernstein was a champion of Stravinsky, and in that way, the program balances the composing world.  This program provides one half of a set of bookends with the other half the season-ending concert in May, when Elgar will appear again in the form of his Cello Concerto.

September 12, 2009; Christopher Zimmerman, Conductor
Concert at 8:00 p.m., Pre-Performance Lecture at 7:00 p.m.
George Mason University's Center for the Arts (Directions)
4373 Mason Pond Drive in Fairfax, Virginia

BERNSTEIN: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
ELGAR: Introduction and Allegro for Strings
STRAVINSKY: The Rite of Spring