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Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2009 > May > 28 > Entry
Dvorak comes to Georgetown
Czech composer Antonin Dvorak wrote perhaps one of the most seminal, and most popular, American symphonies ever — his Symphony No. 9, known as ‘From the New World.’ So perhaps it’s fitting that he’s celebrated this summer on the frontier that is Central Texas.
The annual Georgetown Festival of the Arts, which begins Saturday, gathers internationally recognized Austin-based musicians — pianist Anton Nel along with the Miro Quartet — and special guest artists — including the Shanghai Quartet — for a series of concerts honoring Dvorák’s singular contribution as a music maker who artfully plumbed folk music traditions for inspiration for his classical compositions.
‘This year we are honoring Antonin Dvorak, who enriched this tradition by infusing it with national styles of his native Bohemia and of 19th-century America, with particular interest in American and Native American music,’ says Georgetown Arts Festival director Ellsworth Peterson. ‘In a way, this festival celebrates the ethnic diversity of our own Central Texas heritage.’
The festival starts with a free concert in San Gabriel Park; it runs Saturday through June 7. Tickets are $20 a concert (festival pass $80), $5 students. More information is at www.gtownfestival.org.
Other highlights:
• Free Concert: ‘Dvorak in the Park: ‘From the New World,’ Symphony No. 9.’ Performed by Temple Symphony Orchestra. 8 p.m. Saturday. Gazebo, San Gabriel Park. 1101 N. College St.
• ‘Chamber music: ‘American’ Quartet in F major, Quintet for Piano and Strings, Sextet for Strings.’ Performed by Anton Nel, Miró Quartet, Shanghai Quartet. 8 p.m. June 4. Alma Thomas Theatre, Southwestern University. 1001 University Ave.
• ‘Dvorak’s Songs: Songs in Folk Tone, Moravian Duets, Gypsy Songs and more.’ Performed by Virginia Dupuy, Lynn Parr Mock, Scott Cameron, Bruce Cain. 8 p.m. June 5. First United Methodist Church, 410 E. University Ave.
• ‘Chamber Music: Romance in F minor, Songs My Mother Taught Me, Rondo in G minor and more.’ Performed by Eri Lee Lam, Vincent Lam, Hai Zheng. 3:30 p.m. June 8. First United Methodist Church, 410 E. University Ave.
• ‘Dvorak’s Piano Music.’ Performed by Anton Nel, Michael Schneider. 8 p.m. June 6. Alma Thomas Theatre, Southwestern University. 1001 E. University Ave.
• Dvorak’s ‘Stabat Mater.’ Performed by festival orchestra and chorus with soloists Mela Dailey, Virginia Dupuy, Scot Cameron, Bruce Cain. 4 p.m. June 7. Klett Center for the Performing Arts, Georgetown High School, 2211 N. Austin Ave.
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