Summer Symphony Sweepstakes

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It’s getting hot out there and that means, at least for me, enjoying the cool comfort of the air conditioned indoors.  Well, I have two great suggestions for you to pass days this summer: 1. Attend the Symphony’s first ever “Symphony Sweepstakes” fundraiser (more about that later); and 2. Make a summer listening list to hear some new music that might really catch your ear and turn you on to something new.

Through the magic of Youtube, you can see and hear an unbelievable amount of music without spending a dime.  Let me give you a few of my picks for some of the most exciting classical music performances I have come across on Youtube. This is just a start, so have fun clicking through all the related videos, too!

“Dies Irae” from Verdi’s Requiem conducted by Claudio Abbado/Berlin Philharmonic. The performance speaks for itself.  (search Abbado Verdi Dies Irae)

Mozart “Ach ich fuls” from The Magic Flute sung by Genia Kuhmeier.  Simply heartbreakingly lovely.  (search Mozart Ach Kuhmeier)

Anything conducted by Carlos Kleiber.  His performances were rare, but electrifying when they happened.  Start with Strauss’Rosenkavalier opening. (search Der Rosekavalier 1 Kleiber)

Thomas Quasthoff singing “Gute Nacht from Schubert’s Winterreise. A wonderful artist singing one of the best poetry and music combinations ever written. (search Quasthoff Gute Nacht)

Ginastera “Malambo” from Estancia played by Venezuela’s amazing Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra.  Those kids are having fun. (search Dudamel Malambo)

Our first ever “Symphony Sweepstakes” is a fun, exciting event where the winner walks away with $10,000 in cash!  Only 250 raffle tickets will be sold at $100 each, so your chances of winning are relatively good.  Throughout the evening, numbers will be pulled and eliminated from contention for the prize.  The last ticket in the hopper is the big winner.  Each ticket admits two people to the party on Thursday evening, June 24th at the Alexandria Golf and County Club.  There will be hors d’oeuvres and live music by H.B. Smith.  The winner does not need to be present, so even if you are out of town, you can still win.  Call the Symphony office at (318) 442-9709 to get your ticket.  Proceeds for the event will benefit the establishment of the Rapides Symphony Community Music School that will launch in the fall of 2010 (more about that in the coming months.)  Hope to see you there with a chance to win big!