Tulsa orchestra rises from the ashes

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS (TAHLEQUAH, Okla.)
 

— When the Northeastern Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra announced last year that it would no longer perform as a group, it left a huge void in this part of the state in terms of classical music performances.
It was a tragedy of sorts – and could have been much worse if another organization hadn’t risen from the ashes, like the proverbial phoenix, to fill that void.

Last fall, the vestiges of what was once the Tulsa Philharmonic re-emerged from a several-year hiatus.

It’s now called the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, but it features many of the same players, plus some new shining stars.

It goes without saying that an evening with TSO is more than worth the price of a ticket, and the fuel to get to Tulsa and back.

TSO kicked off its season in November with a stirring rendition of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. It didn’t take long for word to get out. The next concert – a Jan. 8 showcase of film scores from the pen of phenomenally popular composer John Williams – was sold out. This was not expected. TSO originally opened the season expecting to sell only floor seats at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, but a clamor for more tickets opened up the mezzanine and even the top balcony.

The second concert wasn’t a fluke. The Jan. 29 concert, which featured Yuan Jie’s amazing interpretation of Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor by Rachmaninoff, was also sold out, and the young pianist brought the frenzied crowd to its feet with a sustained standing ovation and shouts of “Bravo!”
And so it continued in March, with TSO’s mix of popular movie scores, including Alfred Hitchcock favorites such as “Psycho,” “North By Northwest,” “Vertigo” and other show-stoppers that delighted another packed house.

The TSO has three more performances scheduled for the season, and anyone who loves orchestral music won’t want to miss them.

In recent years, orchestral music has gotten a bad and largely undeserved rap as being rather boring. At least, that’s what the younger generation believes, and they make their statement by not showing up. Classical music fans often note a sea of silver hair in the audience, and are left wondering who will carry on the tradition.

TSO may have found an answer to that dilemma. Those who selected this year’s lineup wisely chose well-known pieces – both classical favorites and pops phenomena – that were guaranteed to attract audiences of all stripes. Too often, orchestras elect to present obscure symphonies and sonatas that modern audiences either haven’t heard or don’t appreciate once they do hear them. TSO made no such mistake in its debut season, and the decision paid off. A number of young people – even dating couples – have been part of this season’s audiences.

Next up is “Bugs Bunny on Broadway,” April 28-29, which will feature classical music used in Warner Bros. cartoons. That will be followed on May 5th by a special Mozart evening with the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus, under the baton of Northeastern Oklahoma State University's Dr. Don Studebaker, and the May 19 season finale.
Do yourself a favor and call 918-584-3645 for tickets. The prices are reasonable; for the May shows, you can even get balcony seats for only $5 each – a great deal for groups, especially kids.
TSO offers a new and fresh opportunity to introduce the next generation to classical music. Let’s not miss it.

Tahlequah (Okla.) Daily Press

Copyright © 1999-2006 cnhi, inc.