‘Sonic Pictures’
Immersive sensory concert by ASO features artwork by local artist
Shown are examples of some of the art that will be shown during Altoona Symphony Orchestra’s “Sonic Pictures” concert on April 12 at the Mishler Theatre. Courtesy photos
Shown are examples of some of the art that will be shown during Altoona Symphony Orchestra’s “Sonic Pictures” concert on April 12 at the Mishler Theatre. Courtesy photos
Shown are examples of some of the art that will be shown during Altoona Symphony Orchestra’s “Sonic Pictures” concert on April 12 at the Mishler Theatre. Courtesy photos
Shown are examples of some of the art that will be shown during Altoona Symphony Orchestra’s “Sonic Pictures” concert on April 12 at the Mishler Theatre. Courtesy photos
Shown are examples of some of the art that will be shown during Altoona Symphony Orchestra’s “Sonic Pictures” concert on April 12 at the Mishler Theatre. Courtesy photos
Shown are examples of some of the art that will be shown during Altoona Symphony Orchestra’s “Sonic Pictures” concert on April 12 at the Mishler Theatre. Courtesy photos
Shown are examples of some of the art that will be shown during Altoona Symphony Orchestra’s “Sonic Pictures” concert on April 12 at the Mishler Theatre. Courtesy photos
Shown are examples of some of the art that will be shown during Altoona Symphony Orchestra’s “Sonic Pictures” concert on April 12 at the Mishler Theatre. Courtesy photos
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The Altoona Symphony Orchestra's "Sonic Pictures" concert at 7:30 p.m. April 12 is designed to be an immersive sensory experience -- a feast for the eyes when art and music combine.
As the orchestra plays "Pictures of an Exhibition," by Modest Mussorgsky (orchestrated by Maurice Ravel in 1922), images of 30-plus works by Blair County artist Joe Servello will be projected onto a screen.
Servello created these paintings for a previous symphony performance of Mussorgsky's work about 10 years ago, according to Nick Palmer, music director and conductor. "We thought it would be great to do an encore presentation using his artwork because he has been such a huge supporter of the ASO."
Servello said he often painted to music throughout his lifetime. It's also fitting, said symphony Executive Director Amanda Selvenis, because the artist has gifted several works of his art to the symphony, which are displayed at their offices. He's also crafted several works of symphony members playing and gifted those to them as well.
When contacted by the Mirror, Servello said he is "very pleased" to hear of the upcoming concert. "This is a nice surprise. I think it is very thoughtful and considerate that I'm not forgotten and I still feel a part of things."
"Pictures at an Exhibition" paints vivid musical pictures of a journey through an art gallery. Mussorgsky composed the "Pictures at an Exhibition" as a tribute to his friend and fellow Russian countryman Viktor Hartmann, who was a painter and an architect. Hartmann, 39, died suddenly of an aneurysm in 1873. An exhibition of over 400 of Hartmann's paintings was displayed in the Academy of Fine Arts in Saint Petersburg, in early 1874."
Hartmann's works no longer exist, so Servello created his art by interpreting Mussorgsky's music.
"Pictures at an Exhibition," Servello said, "always felt very special to me. I always liked listening to it and thinking about it because it had a quality that strongly suggested artwork. It's a great selection and it will make people feel good."
In addition to Mussorgsky's work, the program will include Kevin Puts' Marimba Concerto, performed by guest artist Lee Hinkle, and Carolyn Donaldson will narrate Aaron Copland's Lincoln Portrait, bringing the words of Lincoln to life.
Hinkle is an accomplished percussionist and has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, Florida Orchestra, Washington Master Chorale and the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. He has toured with several performers and groups, including Bebe Neuwirth, Bernadette Peters and the American Wind Symphony Orchestra. An active theater musician, he has played many of the major musical theatre productions at the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre in Shirlington, Va. since 2008.
Hinkle also plays regularly as a section percussionist with the ASO when his schedule permits. "It's fairly unusual" for the marimba to be featured in a solo but "it's becoming more common," Hinkle said. The marimba is played with mallets and has a five octave range.
Puts is a world-famous composer and Pulitzer prize winner and his concerto, Hinkle said, is "a gorgeous piece. It has these beautiful soaring melodies. Each movement is beautiful and makes incredible good use of the marimba. It's exceptionally well written and appeals to a general audience. They will walk out humming."
It is also very technically challenging, he said. So, even though he's performed this piece with four other orchestras this concert season he's "had to practice the whole time. It's very virtuosic."
Mirror staff writer Patt Keith
is at 814-949-7030.