Bainbridge chamber music scene filled with love and nature

With the gentleness of a lamb, the Bainbridge Island chamber music scene is celebrating nature and love early in March.

For its first concerts of 2008, the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra will focus on nature with two performances this weekend, while the Bainbridge Chorale will be raising cheers to Music from the Heart March 9.

IN NATURE’S REALM

Drumming up programming for the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra’s 35th anniversary season, music director and conductor David Upham was inspired by the innate beauty found in both the symphony and in nature.

Perhaps anticipating the slue of sunny days that have closed the month of February and seemingly marked the end of winter here in Kitsap, the program focuses on the aesthetic of spring breaking through diverse movements.

The concert opens with a string concerto by Antonio Vivaldi, a stormy-turned-sunny work full of the 18th century composer’s signature fire. That will be followed by a symphonic poem from a lesser-known 19th century Russian chemist/composer, Alexandr Borodin.

The sun will come out and retreat repeatedly throughout the first half of the program, concluding with two lazy, summer-day-sounding works from the 20th century American composer Aaron Copland, including the well-known “Variations on a Shaker Melody.”

But the clouds come back in the second half of the program which consists of Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8. The late-19th century composer’s signature playful folk-like melodies compete with shadowy minor themes throughout until the clouds finally lift and all is resolved in a raucous country dance finale.

Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra performances will be at 7:30 p.m. March 8 and 3 p.m. March 9 at the Bainbridge Performing Arts Playhouse, 200 Madison Ave. N on Bainbridge. A pre-concert chat will precede each performance 45 minutes before downbeat. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for youth. Info: www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org or call (206) 842-8569.

MUSIC FROM

THE HEART

The Bainbridge Chorale will be pouring its heart out at 3 p.m. March 9 at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church, 1310 Madison Ave. on Bainbridge. It will also give a performance March 8 at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle.

The program features works from Anton Bruckner and Johannes Brahms, concluding with Charles Gounod’s "St. Cecilia Mass." The chorale will be accompanied by the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, while soprano Alexandra Picar, tenor Gino Lucchetti and baritone Gregory Carroll are featured soloists.

Tickets are $18 general admission, $15 for seniors, $12 students. Info: www.bainbridgechorale.org.

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