Close your eyes and listen as the Moorpark College Symphony Orchestra and Choral Music Program take you on an auditory journey into the heart of Vienna.
The two groups are collaborating to present the concert, “Favorites of Vienna: ‘Ode to Joy,'” running May 5-6. The choir will perform in the concert’s first half, singing Viennese classics as well as other selections, like Disney’s “Under the Sea.” The orchestra will then take center stage, opening with Carl Maria von Weber’s German overture, “Der Freischütz” or “The Sharp Shooter.”
Six student soloists from Moorpark’s Applied Music Program will sing an operatic sextet from Mozart’s “Cosi Fan Tutte.” The finale will unite the orchestra, Vocal Ensemble, and College Choir together for a 25-minute performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, the last movement.
Moorpark College Vocal Professor Jinyoung Jang is directing the Choral Music Program, and Moorpark College Music Professor James L. Song is directing the Moorpark College Symphony Orchestra.
“Not many community colleges similar to ours have orchestras that can even attempt this,” Song said. “Not even the university groups can do this.”
About 80 orchestra members and 80 choral singers are uniting for this special event.
“Whenever we have a chance to collaborate, it’s wonderful,” Song said. “And Symphony No. 9 is the reason why we’re collaborating.”
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 is a world-renowned choral symphony which incorporates lyrics from Friedrich Schiller’s poem “Ode to Joy.” Written during the French Revolution of 1785, “Ode to Joy” proclaims peace and unity for all mankind.
“That music talks about brotherhood,” Song said. “The idea is to unite the choir with the orchestra.”
Moorpark College music major Harrison Dalrymple, 21, is an orchestra member who will be playing the French horn in the performance.
“I like the ‘Sharp Shooter’ overture,” Dalrymple said, “because it has a really nice horn sound and introduction. I can imagine there’s a good story behind it.”
Andrea Garcia, 19, is a Moorpark College math and music major who will be singing in the Vocal Ensemble.
“Italian is the easiest language to sing in – well, aside from English,” Garcia said. “It’s definitely the prettiest language.”
The concert will be held on the main stage in the Moorpark College Performing Arts Center, Saturday, May 5 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 6 at 4 p.m. Box Office tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students, seniors, children, and staff. Advance tickets may be purchased online at http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/PAC for a 20 percent discount. Call the Box Office at 805-378-1485 for more information.
