Youngstown Symphony to open its 90th season

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra will open its 90th anniversary season on Saturday with a concert that will fittingly explore the ethnic groups that founded the Mahoning Valley.

The classical concert will start at 8 p.m. in Powers Auditorium, 260 W. Federal St., downtown, with music director Randall Craig Fleischer conducting.

Tickets are available at the DeYor Performing Arts Center box office (opens at 6:30 p.m.), by phone at 330-744-0264, online at youngstownsymphony.com or at the door the evening of the concert.

Saturday’s concert will highlight the Eastern European groups who came to the area by featuring Russian composers Tchaikovsky in his Suite No. 4 “Mozartiana,” written in honor of his favorite composer, Wolfgang Mozart; and Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances from his opera “Prince Igor.”

Polish composer Frederic Chopin will be recognized by his Polonaise (orchestral transcription by Alexander Glazunov) and Bohemian composer Antonin Dvorak by his Slavonic Dances.

Other musical selections will include Liszt’s “Les Preludes” and Smetana’s “The Moldau.”

The concert will begin with a patriotic processional with area veterans groups, and the posting of the colors by the Civil Air Patrol U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Color Guard.

George Beelen, founder of the Ohio Cultural Alliance and professor emeritus at Youngstown State University, will present a Concert Conversations talk on the diverse roots of the Mahoning Valley prior to each classical concert this season.

The opening conversation topic will be Eastern European groups that comprise the ethnic fabric of Youngstown.

Mayor John McNally is expected to make a special presentation to Fleischer.

Preceding the concert, the Youngstown Symphony Society will host a gala opening in the Eleanor Beecher Flad Pavilion lobby. Overture restaurant will be closed prior to the concert, but will reopen following the concert for dining and late night snacks.

The Jeff Bremer Group will return this season for After Hours at the restaurant after each concert.