“Classical and Lighter.” Littleton Symphony Orchestra, conducted
by Jurgen de Lemos, is trying a new program approach this season: a
serious first half of a concert and lighter fare after
intermission.
The 21st season begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, with
featured soloist YuMi Hwang-Williams performing American composer
Samuel Barber’s “Violin Concerto, Opus 14” at Littleton United
Methodist Church.
It will be the first time violinist Hwang-Williams, Colorado
Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster since 2000, has performed the
Barber concerto. She began violin studies at age 10 in
Philadelphia, a year after emigrating from Korea and at 15,
appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. She was
accepted as a student of Jascha Brodsky and Yumi Ninomiya-Scott at
the Curtis Institute of Music, where she received her bachelor of
music degree.
She is known for a commitment to exploring and performing works
of contemporary musicians, as well as her thoughtful
interpretations of classics. In 2003, she performed the Rouse
Violin Concerto at the CSO Contemporary Music Festival, with Marin
Alsop, John Adams, John Corigliano and Christopher Rouse. The
composer pronounced it “the definitive version.” Critics praised
her performance of the Rouse concerto at the Cabrillo Music
Festival, where she is also concertmaster.
Hwang-Williams is a faculty member of the Lamont School of Music
at the University of Denver.
If you go:
Littleton United Methodist Church is at 5894 S. Datura St.,
Littleton. Performance is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, general admission,
$12, $10, $9, $8. At the door or 303-933-6824,
www.littletonsymphony.org.