David Buck
DEARBORN — The Dearborn Symphony will present “Passion and Elegance!” a concert of music by Strauss, Mozart, and Brahms at 8 p.m. Friday at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave.
Tickets ranging from $15 to $30 are available by phoning the symphony at 313-565-2424 or the theater box office at 313-943-2354. Go to www.dearbornsymphony.org for more information.
All patrons are invited to an insightful and humorous free preview of the evening’s music at 7 p.m. by musician James Walters.
Conductor Kypros Markou raises the curtain with the sparkling overture to “Die Fledermaus” by Johann Strauss, the quintessential “Waltz King.” “Die Fledermaus” (“The Bat”) is Strauss’ best known, and unquestionably best loved operetta — fun, light music. Chock-full of mouth-watering melodies, the overture is entertaining music.
Next up is Mozart’s cheerful “First Flute Concerto,” brought to life with amazing warmth and fullness by David Buck, principal flute of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Described as a “flute god” during auditions for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Buck has been praised for his “supple tone, rhythmic dynamism, and technical agility” (The Oregonian).
Prior to his appointment as principal flute of the DSO in 2012, Buck was principal flute with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Oregon Symphony. He has recorded with the LA Phil numerous times, including its 2012 Grammy-winning recording of Brahms’ “Symphony No. 4.”
Brahms’ dramatic final symphony is expected to deliver a thrilling climax to the evening of music.
“I shall never write a symphony,” Brahms once told his friend, conductor Hermann Levi. “You have no idea how the likes of us feel when we hear the tramp of a giant like him behind us.” Referring to Beethoven, Brahms was not alone feeling intimidated by the great composer’s magnificent nine symphonies.
When he was sufficiently self-confident to take up the challenge, Brahms composed four exceptional symphonies. He wrote “Symphony No. 4” during the summers of 1884 and 1885. While he had strong misgivings about its value, the eminent conductor Hans von Bülow, praised its “incomparable strength from start to finish.” With its reserved grandeur and fatalistic power, it leaves the audience awestruck.
The Dearborn Symphony has partnered with local restaurants for “Dinner and a Concert.” The restaurants — Joe Vicari’s Andiamo Italian Steakhouse, Big Fish, Kiernan’s Steak House and Silky’s, LaPita, The Dearborn Inn and Tria at The Henry — offer a 20 percent discount to symphony ticket-holders on concert nights.
Advance reservations are recommended.