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Free plazacast part of KnightSounds Series

Apr 9, 2015

 
by Ashley Mahoney 

What if the symphony played outside?

On April 17-18 at 7:30 p.m., the Charlotte Symphony hosts its premiere free outdoor plazacast during its KnightSounds Series concert, "A Night In New York" at the Knight Theater at the Levine Center for the Arts.

"The free plazacast is just one of the many innovative ways the Charlotte Symphony, especially within our KnightSounds Series, is reaching younger audiences and maintaining relevancy within our growing community," said Charlotte Symphony president and CEO Bob Stickler.

Designed to engage younger audiences, the KnightSounds Series began in 2010, the plazacast brings together classic as well as contemporary elements.

"The concert will take the symphony out of the concert hall and into the community," said Susan Patterson, Charlotte program director for the Knight Foundation. "We want the arts to be for everyone to enjoy."

For instance, while patrons may be seated in chairs or on blankets about the Levine Center for the Arts, the symphony continues to play indoors. However, the audience won't find itself limited to merely hearing the music. Rather, cameras will capture visual elements as well through close-ups to Maestro Christopher Warren-Green, various instruments and musicians projecting it onto a 16-by-9-foot screen with speakers. There's also a downloadable digital program (available for Apple or Android) with musician bios, playlist, information about the series, and a welcome video from the maestro.

In addition to selections from Leonard Bernstein's musicals such as "West Side Story" and George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" performed by Phillip Bush, instructor of chamber music and piano at the University of South Carolina's School of Music, the evening will feature specially commissioned pieces for the symphony's principal clarinetist, Gene Kavadlo.

The traditional Jewish klezmer pieces celebrate Kavadlo's time with the orchestra (almost 40 years).

Furthermore, selections of "On the Town" will feature members of the Charlotte Ballet II. After the concert, patrons may enjoy live jazz from two Jazz Arts Initiative ensembles.

KnightSounds events include pre- and post-concert activities as well as an hour-long concert. The tickets are $29 with a general admission seating style and include one drink (which is permitted in the theater). 

Article at Charlotte Post