Charlotte Symphony
Belk Theater
May 8, 2009
The Charlotte Symphony performed special show titled Berlin in Lights at Belk Theater. A pre-concert festival was held before the show and featured displays relating to Germany, as well as food and beer.
The Charlotte Symphony, led by conductor Christof Perick played a variety of pieces by German classical musicians. The first half of the show consisted of music pieces from the 1800s, including selections from Otto Nicolais Overture to The Merry Wives of Windsor, and selections from Felix Mendelssohns Incidental Music to A Midsummer Nights Dream, Op 21.
After the intermission, the real treat came when the Charlotte Symphony performed late 1920s arrangements, including short selections from the famed Kurt Weills Suite from The Threepenny Opera and short selections from the less known Eduard Kunnekes Dance Suite for Jazz Band and Orchestra, Op. 26. These tunes were jazzy, upbeat and irresistible to some serious foot shaking. The Charlotte Symphony delivered an impressive performance. Pieces chosen for the show were well-organized and I left interested in learning a bit more about the late composers of the pieces played and their music.