Mobile Symphony goes bold with Brahms' epic Fourth Symphony, April 15-16

GCM Staff Report
Posted 3/31/23

With guest conductor and Alabama native Norman Huynh, the Mobile Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is going big and bold with Brahms' epic "Symphony No. 4.""Talented Alabama native Norman Huynh, who is …

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Mobile Symphony goes bold with Brahms' epic Fourth Symphony, April 15-16

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With guest conductor and Alabama native Norman Huynh, the Mobile Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is going big and bold with Brahms' epic "Symphony No. 4."

"Talented Alabama native Norman Huynh, who is enjoying a burgeoning international conducting career, joins us as we perform the final symphonic work from Johannes Brahms," said Scott Speck, music director. "From its first two notes, bursting with melodic possibility, we are in the hands of an absolute master of the symphonic form.

"The lush, dark colors of this ravishingly beautiful symphony make a perfect contrast to "Music in Common Time," an innovative work for chorus and orchestra by Caroline Shaw, featuring the University of South Alabama Concert Choir," Speck said. "A thrilling overture by Carl Maria von Weber, one of the fathers of the Romantic era, opens the program like a rocket ship taking off."

Huynh continues to build a reputation as one of classical music's most adventurous ambassadors. He has led orchestras across Europe, Asia and North America and is the music director of the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra and associate conductor for the Oregon Symphony.

A sharp focus on winning over new audiences reflects Huynh's entry point to classical music as a 12-year-old "band geek" trombonist in Prattville, Alabama. In high school, he picked up euphonium, a brass instrument similar to a tuba, which he played in the University of Alabama's marching band while getting his dress in music education. Then in his sophomore year of college, he began taking conducting lessons and discovered orchestral music.

Two-concert season memberships are $34-$136. Tickets to individual concerts are $20-$89. Student tickets are $10. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at (251) 432-2010 or at the symphony box office, 257 Dauphin Street. Through MSO's Big Red Ticket program, sponsored by the Alabama Power Foundation, students in grades K-12 can attend any of the season's classical Sunday performances for free when accompanied by a paying adult (excludes special events like the annual holiday concert). More details can be found at mobilesymphony.org.

MSO's informative pre-concert talks, TakeNote, enhance the enjoyment of the concert. These lectures begin at 6:30 p.m. before Saturday performances and 1:30 p.m. before Sunday performances in Room 1927 adjacent to the Saenger entrance on Joachim Street.

The concert is sponsored by the University of South Alabama, the Daniel Foundation of Alabama, Andra Bohnet, and Ann McLaurin in memory of Dr. Mary Gorton McBride. All concerts have been made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.