Symphony to play ‘London Dash!’
Published 10:03 am Tuesday, April 12, 2011
![0412ASOpreview2](https://www.austindailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2011/04/0412ASOpreview2.jpg)
Millie Masse and Jiuhoon Shin practice Handel's "Water Story," during the Austin Symphony Orchestra's practice Monday night. The ASO will put on its first concert of the season, "London Dash!" this Sunday. -- Trey Mewes/trey.mewes@austindailyherald.com
We’re not in Manchester anymore.
The Austin Symphony Orchestra will put on its “London Dash!” show this Sunday. Featuring Marisa Lin and Sonya Huang, the winners of the ASO’s second Young Artists’ Competition, the orchestra promises a quick jaunt through pieces by Mozart, Handel, Hardy and Haydn that’ll remind the audience the United Kingdom is more than just tea and crumpets.
“It’s a nice concept, a nice theme,” said Stephen J. Ramsey, ASO director. “The music is really, really appealing and really well known to a lot of people. It’ll resonate with them.”
The music will include Handel and Hardy’s “Water Music,” as well as Haydn’s “Symphony No. 104,” both pieces which resonate strongly with London, according to Ramsey.
“It’s party music,” Ramsey said of Handel’s “Water Music,” a piece Handel wrote as an apology to King George III. “It was music for a big party for George the Third and it was a way for Handel to say he was sorry to the King.”
Haydn’s “Symphony No. 104,” has similar connections, as this symphony is literally called his London symphony.
In addition, Lin and Huang will play the first movement of two Mozart concertos. Lin, 15, has won top awards in several piano competitions, including second place in this year’s Minnesota Music Teachers Association Junior Young Artists competition and first place at several Clements Madden Competitions.
Huang, 16, started formal music training at age 5 and won this year’s Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestra concerto competition.
“These two (were) hands down the best,” Ramsey said. “These two are very fine young ladies who do a lot of this sort of thing.”
The concert is the first of the ASO’s four concert season, its 54th season to date. “London Dash!” will be performed at 2 p.m. April 17 at Knowlton Auditorium. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 in advance, $5 for college students and free for high school students and younger.