Symphony celebrates Valentine’s Day with ‘One Hand, One Heart’

Published 6:44 am Thursday, February 11, 2010

There will be music in the air this Valentine’s Day as local musicians present a romantic afternoon show.

The Austin Symphony Orchestra, featuring pianist Ian Shapinsky, performs “One Hand, One Heart,” a Valentine’s Day concert, at 2 p.m. Sunday at Austin High School.

Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” a medley of songs from Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story,” as well as musical works by Bach, Debussy, Tchaikovsky, Schumann and Bernstein are on the matinee’s playlist.

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Sunday’s concert title is taken from a famous West Side Story number included in the medley.

The lyrics, written by Stephen Sondheim, include, “ Make of our hands one hand; Make of our hearts one heart.”

“There are four of us covering multiple parts, and we get to play many different percussion instruments on this piece. All of us really enjoy it,” said symphony musician Martha Chancellor of the medley.

Shapinsky, the Julliard School of Music graduate, award-winning concert pianist, lecturer and teacher, will perform concertos by Bach and Tchaikovsky during the concert.

The Austin Symphony Orchestra is in its 53rd season and its 16th year under conductor Stephen Ramsey, of Minneapolis.

Tickets are available at the door Sunday and in advance at Hy-vee. For more information contact 433-5647.

‘One Hand, One Heart’

Austin Symphony Orchestra featuring Ian Shapinsky

Where: Knowlton Auditorium

Austin High School

301 Third St. NW.

When: Sunday, 2 p.m.

Tickets: $8 in advance or $10 at the door; $4 in advance or $5 at the door for college students; free for children in grades K-12 are. Advance tickets are available at Hy-Vee.