Name: Most Wonderful Time
Start: 2023-12-02T19:30:00
Location: Washburn University

Topeka Symphony Orchestra

SADDLE UP, FOLKS, as we bring you a night of the tales from yesteryear and the trailblazing sounds of the new. We start with the old-timey in Aaron Copland’s Western ballad of Billy the Kid, and Debussy’s sensual Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. Then, hang on to your hats with Boyer’s exciting Fanfare, Hymn, and Renewal and prepare to be amazed when Viet Cuong’s Re(new)al rides in with a bold, high-energy new piece performed by the fantastic Sandbox Percussion Ensemble.

Billy the Kid

Washburn University

IN THIS PERFORMANCE created by Alice Wiley Pickett for actors, singers, and the orchestra, we will enter the deeply emotional and intensely creative world of French composer Maurice Ravel, who lived during the rich explosion of arts and sciences in Paris in the first part of the 20th century. Through Ravel’s own words and the words of both his most beloved friends and his harshest critics, and through his revolutionary and wildly, beautifully inventive music, we will paint an impressionistic picture—at times whimsical and at other times tragic—of this enigmatic genius.

Ravel

TUNE IN for a night of mystery, intrigue, and spectacular beauty. Stravinsky’s Petrushka unravels a dark tale of manipulation and jealousy with an ill-fated puppet whose desperate fight for love ends in tragedy. Reena Esmail’s ReMember weaves together powerful themes of identity and connection, blending Eastern and Western influences in a stunning musical tapestry. And join us in welcoming to the stage rising star Aubree Oliverson on Tchaikovsky’s virtuosic, passionate, and beguiling Violin Concerto. This will be a night to remember!

The Clown 

TUNE IN for an epic night dedicated entirely to the music of John Williams, one of Hollywood’s greatest composers, whose music instantly evokes adventure, nostalgia, and movie magic! From the triumphant brass of Star Wars to the haunting strings of Schindler’s List, John Williams’s symphonic film scores have shaped the sound of modern cinema. This electrifying concert highlights the genius behind the music that has defined decades of movies and transforms the orchestra into the ultimate blockbuster experience.

Music of John Williams

Let us put you in the holiday mood at our traditional holiday concert where you not only get to sit back and listen to all the seasonal favorites, but also join the crowd in our annual carol sing-a-long. There’s not much better than lifting your voice up with others to celebrate this most wonderful time of the year.