Huntsville Symphony Closes Season with Mahler's Third Symphony

With over 100 orchestra musicians, mezzo soprano soloist and women's and children's choruses filling the Von Braun Center Concert Hall stage, the vast and lush musical canvas of Mahler’s epic Third Symphony is truly a grand finale to the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra's Fiftieth Anniversary season. Of this symphony, Mahler himself said, “Imagine a work so vast that the whole world is mirrored in it.” Music Director Carlos Miguel Prieto leads this rare performance on May 7, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.

Concert sponsor is Futaba Corporation of America. Guest Artist sponsor is the Olin B. King Foundation. Billy Orton is the chorusmaster of the women's and children's choruses from the Huntsville Community Chorus. Anne Chelekis is the director of the Huntsville Community Children's Chorus.

Of this symphony, Mahler himself said, “Imagine a work so vast that the whole world is mirrored in it.” Described as one of the grandest symphonies ever created, Mahler's Third arose from perhaps the grandest thing of all: nature itself. From the majestic brass of the opening bars—including a extended virtuoso solo by trombonist Prentiss Hobbs—to a glorious and eloquent conclusion, Mahler's epic achievement is filled with imagery and inspiration.

Lorin Maazel, Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, said of Mahler, “The man was a wall-to-wall philosopher. He embraced every known, and a few unknown, human emotions. He was not embarrassed to put them forth. He was a very well-rounded, well-balanced person with a gigantic sense of humor and a light touch. I mention that because those lighter aspects of Mahler are very often ignored. He was obviously a romantic and his love music is incredibly beautiful, very passionate.”

Very few tickets remain to the performance of Mahler's Third Symphony, so advance ticket purchase is recommended. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 539-4818, in person at the HSO offices and online at www.hso.org. Tickets may also be purchased the night of the concert at the Concert Hall beginning at 6:15 p.m. Single ticket prices range from $24 to $54, with student and group rates available, and there is a $5.00 student rush for available seating beginning at 7:20 p.m.

Pre-Concert Conversations with Carlos are thirty-minute informal talks that provide insights into the program, beginning at 6:45. The Pre-Concert Conversation will feature popular WLRH program host Ginny Kennedy who will interview HSO Concertmaster from the stage.

“Sneak Preview,” HSO’s final rehearsal at 11:00 a.m. on concert day, is open to the public for a nominal charge of $5.00. Children 5 and under are free. Sponsor is Publix Super Markets Charities.

Marietta Simpson

Marietta Simpson, one of the most sought-after mezzo-sopranos on the music scene today, is greatly admired for the rich beauty of her deeply expressive voice. She has sung with all the major orchestras in the U.S. and under many of the world's great conductors, including the late Robert Shaw, Kurt Masur, Lorin Maazel, Simon Rattle, Helmuth Rilling, Charles Dutoit, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Neeme Jarvi and Neville Marriner.

Recent highlights include debut performances with the Vienna Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic, led by Sir Simon Rattle, and the Chicago Symphony with Daniel Barenboim in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. She made her debut at Lyric Opera of Chicago singing the role of Addie in Marc Blitzstein’s Regina to great critical praise. She performed with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra in the world premiere of The Thread by J. Mark Scearce to text by Toni Morrison. Ms. Simpson sang Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Wolfgang Sawallisch’s final performances as music director of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and performed Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 in the final performances of Marin Alsop’s tenure as music director of the Colorado Symphony.

Ms. Simpson made her Carnegie Hall debut in 1998 in Brahms’s Alto Rhapsody conducted by the late Robert Shaw. She gave solo recitals in Philadelphia, Orange County and at UC-Irvine as part of a residency in June 2003 involving master class and orchestral performance in Brahms Alto Rhapsody.

A native of Philadelphia, Ms. Simpson was a prize winner in the 1989 Naumburg International Vocal Competition and in that year was awarded First Prize in the Leontyne Price Vocal Arts Competition sponsored by National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women Clubs.

Billy Orton

Billy Orton is chorusmaster of a women's and children's chorus from the Huntsville Community Chorus. Since 1992, Mr. Orton has held the position of Music Director and Conductor of the Huntsville Community Chorus, the oldest performing arts organization in the region, now in its 59th season. Under his leadership the Chorus has grown in both numbers and artistic impact upon the community. Mr. Orton has been the Minister of Music and Worship at Huntsville's First Baptist Church since 1998, administering a program of over 25 choirs, instrumental groups, and ensembles.

Mr. Orton prepared the chorus for the HSO's acclaimed performance of Carmina Burana in March of 2004 and for Mozart's Requiem in January of 2005. He has prepared and conducted church and community music groups in the performances of such major works as Mendelssohn's Elijah, Handel's Messiah (complete), Haydn's The Creation, Brahms' A German Requiem, and Vaughan Williams' Hodie.

Prior to moving to Huntsville, Mr. Orton served as Minister of Music for churches in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Virginia. He as been a guest conductor, teacher, and performer in the United States, Russia, Zimbabwe, and Germany, specializing in church music, instrumental leadership, and choral conducting. An ordained minister, he is a Kentucky native and graduated with honors from both Western Kentucky University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.