Sammamish Symphony performs medley program across classical periods

The Sammamish Symphony performed a medley of pieces from different classical eras as part of its midwinter performance in late February.

Concerts took place on Feb. 24 in Bellevue’s Meydenbauer Center Theatre, and Feb. 26 at Eastlake High School.

The program included music from the 18th through 20th centuries, with works by Pietro Locatelli, Franz Schubert, Josef Strauss, Igor Stravinsky and Kurt Weill.

Rehearsing since January, conductor Adam Stern and the orchestra of around 50 musicians aimed to showcase the beauty of classical music. Using pieces from a variety of composers, they have encompassed a wide range of different musical styles, from Italian Baroque to early Romantic era, Viennese Waltz, and modern variations.

Their performance began with Schubert’s Die Zwillingsbruder Overture, which was composed in June 1820. 

The piece was followed by Impromptu for Small Orchestra, composed by Strauss. Impromptu pieces, introduced in the 19th century, are known to bring an element of surprise. They require the skill of making up musical phrases on the spot, and are most commonly used in jazz today. 

The piece performed next was Kleine Dreigroschenmusik, also known as the Threepenny Opera Instrumental Suite. This is a portion of Weill’s Threepenny Opera, one of the most oft-performed works of 20th century musical theater.

The last two pieces were the Concerto Grosso in C, Op.1 No.6 and Suites Nos. 1-2 for Small Orchestra. The former piece was composed by Locatelli, an Italian violinist and composer, while the latter was derived from Stravinsky’s compositions of eight piano duets.

“The concert was an eclectic mix of music from different eras,” said Valerie Harris, 46, a member of the orchestra. “The strings only Locatelli from the Baroque era was quite a contrast from the contemporary Weill which featured winds, brass, percussion, accordion, and banjo – the last two instruments not usually seen in an orchestra.”