The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra continues its season with “Visions of Paradise” on Oct. 30 in the Williamsburg Community Chapel. The spotlight goes to Richard Scofano, one of the top bandoneon players around, who will perform his own creation, “La Tierra Sin Mal,” which means “the land without evil.
” It’s based on a Guarani legend reflective of the spiritual and ancestral forces in South America and is chock-full with impressions. As a composer and performer, Scofano artistically blends the sounds of the instrument (think concertina, tango, Piazzolla) with those of the orchestra in this symphonic poem. It’s sultry, exotic, lush, lyrical, energetic and mesmerizing.
The entire program is impressionistic, leading off with Debussy’s exquisitely beautiful “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun.” Certainly well known, its flowing lines are captivating, sensuous and luxurious. The evening closes with the sweeping emotional sounds of Brahms in his Symphony No.
1. From the opening and ominous heartbeat sounds of the timpani to the closing and absolutely glorious, finale (especially as introduced by the French horn), this is a work of significant beauty, thought and reward. Chia-Hsuan Lin, the principal guest conductor for the Richmond Symphony, serves as guest conductor while Michael Butterman continues his treatment for lymphoma.
Performance starts at 7:30 p.m. with a 6:30 p.
m. pre-concert talk. For information and tickets, visit williamsburgsymphony.
org . The .