Starkville-MSU Symphony Orchestra to close out year with a bang

Contact: Sammy McDavid

STARKVILLE, Miss.--"From Russia, with Love" will be the April 14 theme for the Starkville-Mississippi State University Symphony Orchestra's final concert of the school year.

The free performance, to begin at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Hall auditorium, features recognized works of three celebrated Russian composers. The program will begin with a prelude by the Starkville First United Methodist Church handbell choir.

Modest Moussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" will be first among the orchestral selections. The piece, which was orchestrated by French composer Maurice Ravel, depicts a patron on promenade through an art showing, with 10 movements representing the different works on display.

The program's second half gets under way with "Concerto for Cello and Orchestra No. 1" by Dmitri Borisovich Kabalevsky. Rajli Bicolli, principal S-MSUSO cellist for the past three seasons, will be featured soloist.

The evening concludes with Peter Ilich Tschaikowsky's "1812 Overture." Always a rousing favorite--particularly on the Fourth of July--this spring version also will feature bells and a cannon.

For additional information on the program, telephone 662-325-3070.

For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.