A suburban orchestra prepares for a summer concert, while the Chautauqua season winds down.By Bill Raffel, WBFO
Buffalo, NY – While many ensembles enjoy a summertime break, the Amherst Symphony is gearing up for its only concert of the summer. Good morning. I'm Bill Raffel with Music Notes.
The Chautauqua Symphony closes its season tomorrow (Tue 8/19) at 8:15 p.m. in the Amphitheatre, with organist Jared Jacobson as soloist in the so-called Seattle Concerto by Naji Hakim, a piece composed only five years ago. Music Director Uriel Segal also conducts Prokofiev's Suite from Lieutenant Kije and Shostakovich's First Symphony. And the Chautauqua Opera gives its Swan Song tonight (Monday, 8/18) at 7:30 p.m. with Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore. And the U. S. Air Force Band of Liberty closes the Chautauqua season with a free concert Sunday (8/24) at 2:15 p.m.
North of Chautauqua, there aren't many outdoor summer concerts left either, with one notable exception. The Amherst Symphony performs this Friday (8/22) at 7 p.m. in Amherst State Park, on Mill Street in Williamsville. Music Director Steven Thomas says this performance is becoming a tradition.