Esprit Orchestra presents Super Strings V

Program:
Arvo Pärt: Silhouette (2009/15)
Arvo Pärt: Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten (1977)
Anders Hillborg: Bach Materia (2016/17)
(Mark Fewer, violin)
Andrew Norman: Gran Turismo (2004) (for 8 violins)
Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze (arr. Steve Riffkin)
Alexina Louie: O Magnum Mysterium: In Memoriam Glenn Gould (1999 rev. 2015) (arr. John Rea)
 
Comprised entirely of works for string orchestra, highlighting Esprit’s excellent string section (peppered with a bit of percussion) this program features tributes to significant artistic figures. We celebrate Arvo Pärt’s 90th birthday with two of his works; one, like a cascading waterfall in slow motion, in memory of Benjamin Britten; the other, “short and light, like a dance, a waltz, something dizzying” inspired by the Eiffel Tower and serving as an homage to Gustave Eiffel and the elegance of his plans and blueprints for the tower. Cosmic motifs interweave with traces of classical repertoire Louie’s fantasy reverie for the great Glenn Gould. Eight solo violinists, with speed and flamboyant machismo, portray Norman’s imaginary convergence of Italian Futurist Art, Baroque music and a racecar video game. Adding zest to this concert will be the splendiferous improvisations of violinist extraordinaire Mark Fewer as a feature of Hillborg’s tribute to Bach and a full blast string rendition of the iconic Purple Haze summons the spectre of Jimi Hendrix.