Special to Independent Newsmedia
The Musical Instrument Museum busts stereotypes of classical music when it presents MusicaNova Orchestra's “Dead Elvis and Other Gems” in Phoenix.
The program is full of playfulness, general silliness, a few surprises, and a great deal of nose-thumbing at pretension and stuffiness, according to a MusicNova press release. Grammy winning composer Michael Daugherty’s “Dead Elvis” is a show in which MusicaNova Orchestra’s principal bassoonist Kristilyn Woods dons the sequined jumpsuit and plays the “Dies Irae,” the medieval Latin chant for the day of judgment, while a small ensemble riffs on rock and roll motifs.
The show takes place at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 24 at Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd.
The concert also features the orchestra’s Kristin Fray and Anthony Masiello in a rare double concerto for clarinets, the “Three Gymnopedies,” that helped establish Peggy Glanville-Hicks as a leading 20th century composer; and the sixth of Haydn’s 12 London symphonies, which ends with a pleasant surprise.
Tickets range from $33.50 to $38.50 and are available at mim.org.
The MusicaNova Orchestra is a professional ensemble in Phoenix. For more info, email info@musicanovaaz.com or visit musicanovaaz.org.
From left, Kristilyn Woods (principal bassoon), Kristin Fray (clarinet) and Tony Massielo (clarinet).
(Photos provided by MusicaNova Orchestra)