Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra coming

A German musical group that has been featured around the world visits Mississippi State University for an April 7 Lyceum Series performance.

The Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra's presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Hall Auditorium. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for seniors (by request) and $3 for children 3-12.

The group was formed in 1945 to perform masterpieces of the day and Baroque-era classics. In addition to Germany, its musicians come from Austria, Britain, France, Hungary, Japan, Romania, Turkey, and the United States.

Under the direction of Dennis Russell Davies, the orchestra has expanded its repertoire to include contemporary compositions. The Mississippi State program will feature Vivaldi's "Sinfonia in B minor" and the "Serenade, Op. 48" by Tchaikovsky, as well as Lou Harrison's "New First Suite for Strings" and "Musica dolorosa" by Peteris Vasks.

In addition to touring extensively in Europe, North and South America, the Far East and Africa, the orchestra has performed to critical acclaim at some of Europe's most renowned festivals. A New York Times review described it as "an ensemble of splendid instrumentalists."

A conductor and pianist, Davies lives in Germany but is a regular guest conductor with the major orchestras and opera houses of New York, Chicago and Boston. He also serves as music director of the American Composers Orchestra at Carnegie Hall and last year became the chief conductor of the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.

For more information about the Lyceum performance, contact Brenda Neubauer at (601) 325-4201.