By Grace Hooley | Contributor
The Marion Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) will wake the dead on Halloween night during its special holiday concert.
All ages are welcome as the orchestra will perform pieces from "Harry Potter," "Star Wars," "Phantom of the Opera," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "Funeral March of the Marionette." The MPO will also play ballet music from Faust and the Shostakovich Concerto No. 1 in C minor for piano, trumpet and strings. The final piece will include two guest artists: pianist Robert Marler of Nashville Symphony and the MPO's principal trumpet Larry Powell.
"The Shostakovich is a terribly exciting piece," Powell said. "(The audience) should imagine that they are being oppressed and that his music is a scream for national freedom. That might sound heavy, but it really makes the music exciting to think about it that way."
Many visual aspects will add to the performance, including special lighting and a performance from members of the Playhouse Studio of Dance, who will be dancing to the first half of the concert and the final song. The audience should expect a surprise from the dancers.
The orchestra, audience and members of the Playhouse Studio of Dance will all wear costumes for the evening.
"It is Halloween, and we want to attract a young audience," Sheila Todd, executive director for the MPO said. "Because it is our opening night concert, it is very different."
The audience also will be given the opportunity to choose a guest to conduct the Star Wars theme ahead of time. It costs $1 online atbit.ly/1M0i56y to vote for Reggie Nevels, Leslie Hendricks or John Lawson to conduct. All proceeds go to the MPO.
"This is to kick off the season. We hope they will enjoy the variety in these pieces," Todd said.
Children under 12 are welcome to join in trick-or-treating in the lobby before the concert. Children's tickets are $5, student tickets are $10 and adult tickets are $20. Tickets can be purchased in the music office of Smith-Hermanson Music Center, at the door on the night of the performance or by calling 765-662-0012. Ticket prizes will be given.
