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After a season that offered a virtual classical music world tour, the Mission Chamber Orchestra brings audiences back to their musical home turf, at least for a little while, to conclude the season with the program "From America and Abroad." Top pianist Hans Boepple, known for his interpretive prowess, will be the soloist for this rousing season finale, which takes place April 23 at Le Petit Trianon in San Jose.
Since the fall, the orchestra has taken its listeners globetrotting, with soloists from England, China and India, and musical selections that hailed from around the world. To wind up the season, the orchestra's programming heads back to the U.S.A. with a couple of post-millennium American works--still allowing time for some stops in Russia, Germany and Finland.
The Yankee portion of the program is comprised of two 21st-century works: John Beeman's energetic 2002 composition Beeline, A Festival Overture, and the world premiere of the string orchestra version of David Sartor's mischievously playful 2001 work "Black Ball Counts Double." Sartor was inspired to write the piece by a game that he played as a child.
Igor Stravinsky's Concerto in E-flat for Chamber Orchestra, better known as "Dumbarton Oaks," has something of an international pedigree--influenced by Bach's Brandenburg concertos, it was written by a Russian composer living in France--but it too, has a tie to this country. The piece takes its popular name from the Washington, D.C,. estate of the man who commissioned the work for his 30th wedding anniversary.
Of course, the American flavor of the program is perhaps best represented by the soloist for the evening, who is not only a countryman, but also a local. Boepple, chair of the music department at Santa Clara University, has been listed on the Steinway International Artist Roster for more than 20 years and garnered numerous accolades, including first prize in the J.S. Bach International Competition, the Kosciuszko Chopin Competition and the MTNA Collegiate Competition. He's a six-time recipient of the Coleman Chamber Music Award.
Boepple will lend his talents to Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4, which was programmed at audience request. Mission Chamber regulars should be glad they asked when they hear Boepple's take on the challenging, dramatic piece.
Also by popular demand, the program includes Jean Sibelius' "Pelleas and Melisande Suite, Op. 46," which was originally written by the Finnish composer as incidental music for the well-known symbolist play by Maurice Maeterlinck that tells of a love triangle with--what else?--tragic consequences.
The Mission Chamber Orchestra presents "From America to Abroad," with soloist Hans Boepple, April 23, 8 p.m. at le Petit Trianon, 72 N. Fifth St., San Jose. Tickets are $5-$16. 408.293.6060 or www.missionchamber.org.
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