The Santa Cruz Symphony is celebrating its 65th year of presenting live, exciting classical music concerts for Santa Cruz County. This year’s opening concert will get your feet moving with 11 symphonic dances from around the world.
Over the centuries, countless compositions have been inspired by the connection between music and dance.
In 1879, Johannes Brahms composed 21 Hungarian Dances, based directly on Hungarian folk tunes. The Santa Cruz Symphony will perform Nos. 1 and 5. During the same period, Antonin Dvořák wrote 16 Slavonic Dances using his own melodies in combination with traditional rhythms and patterns from the rich Bohemian folk culture. We will be featuring two of those dances on this concert.
Nearly 75 years later in Shenyang, China, composer Huanzhi Li compiled several Chinese folk tunes into the lively Spring Festival Overture. Traditional drums beat and cymbals crash in this brilliant celebration of the Lunar New Year written in the Western style.
In a truly global embrace, American composer Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser arranged the South African greeting tune, Hlonolofatsa, for a symphonic orchestra. Alongside the usual instruments of a modern orchestra, the piece features a collection of djembes, traditional African drums, and the marimba.
Finally, the concert will conclude with the boisterous Huapango, by Mexican composer José Pablo Moncayo. The huapango itself is a style of Mexican folk music from which Moncayo drew his inspiration. To accompany this piece, the Santa Cruz Symphony is pleased to feature Esperanza Del Valle Baile Folclorico from Watsonville as our guest artists. They will thrill the audience with the beauty and excitement of traditional Mexican dance.
You don't want to miss this inspiring opening concert.
We hope to see you this weekend!