Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra returns to Mount Dora in its third concert of Season Seven entitled “Waters of the World.” Once again, unforgettable compositions will fill these hallowed halls but this time with the ebb and flow of seafaring adventures! Music from Handel, Strauss, Mendelssohn, “Pirate’s of the Caribbean” and others, will evoke romantic images of idyllic streams, surging rivers and even turbulent seas, a musical score that will have you singing "Yo Ho" by the end of the program. Bringing these compositions to life is none other than the charismatic Michael J. Garasi whose musical direction is just as entertaining to watch as the orchestra itself. No need to worry about sea sickness on this fantasy cruise through "Waters of World."
The program sails into Mount Dora with this extraordinary lineup:
The program will start with Handel’s "Alla Hornpipe" from “Water Music,” a composition of three suites composed in 1717 and originally performed on barges for King George I who enjoyed the music so much that he commanded two repeat performances of the entire program. Some of these pieces you may recognize from “Dead Poet’s Society” and the Electrical Water Pageant at Walt Disney World.
The sounds of Mendelssohn’s “Die Hebriden” or “Fingal’s Cave” were inspired by his visit to the Scottish islands where he explored this natural cave on the uninhabited island of Staffa. Throughout the composition completed in 1830, the buoyancy of the music evokes images of the rising tides and turbulent seas crashing upon this cavern on the sea.
We move from Scotland to the Czech Republic with the next composition by Czech composer Bedrich Smetlana who wrote this timeless classic from 1874—1879. The flowing melodies emerge from tiny springs to meandering steams running through scenic landscapes of castles and mermaids. From there, it’s whirling rapids and surging rivers eventually making its way to Prague and the Elbe.
Inspired by the idyllic landscapes of Florida, English composer Frederick Delius composed the “Florida Suite” in 1887 that evokes images of gently drifting down the St. Johns River from dawn to dusk enjoying the scenic vistas along the way.
Tempos pick up with the unforgettable “Blue Danube” by Johann Strauss, Jr. who composed this timeless classic in 1867. You may remember excerpts featured in a scene from “2001: A Space Odyssey” showing flight attendants serving passengers and crew aboard a flight into outer space. Or perhaps MGM’s “The Blue Danube” animated short from 1939 with dancing fairies, cherubim and woodland creatures frolicking through the blue waters of the world.
Disney’s “Pirate’s of the Caribbean” makes a big splash with its swashbuckling compositions evoking adventures on the seven seas with the plundering and pilfering pirates led by the incomparable Captain Jack Sparrow.
Wrapping up the evening of these maritime melodies will be excerpts from "Swan Lake Ballet" and ending with the "Russian Sailors Dance." Don't miss this week’s performance of “Waters of the World” by the Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra.
The concert will take place on Thursday, January 12 at 7:30 p.m. in Mount Dora at St. Patrick’s Church on Old Highway 441. A second performance will take place on Friday, January 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Groveland at the South Lake High School on Silver Eagle Road. Tickets are $42 in advance and $45 at the door.
Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra, now in its seventh season, is comprised of 60 musicians from around the world who either now call Florida home or play with the orchestra for a few seasons before returning to their homelands.
Upcoming concerts include:
- “Tribute to Guy Saint-Clair”—Mount Dora on February 16 and South Lake on February 17.
- “La Chaim”—Mount Dora on March 22 and South Lake on March 23.
- “Magical Journeys”—Mount Dora on April 26 and South Lake on April 27.
Visit Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra or call 352-589-1500 for more information.
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