Join Salem Symphonic Winds for a musical journey to the Middle East, featuring the world premiere of a band arrangement of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam by Alan Hovhaness.
This concert will celebrate the cultures and histories of several regions of the Middle East. The program will also include works by Verdi, Massenet, Korngold, Giroux, Jarre, Reed, and de Meij, showcasing the diversity and richness of the musical traditions of the region.
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam is a masterpiece by Alan Hovhaness.
It is based on the poetry of Omar Khayyam, which reflects on the themes of life, death, love, and fate.
The music by Hovhaness is scored for orchestra with accordion soloist and narrator. The work is a unique fusion of Western and Eastern musical elements, creating a captivating and exotic sound.
John Skelton, our artistic director and conductor, arranged the work for band. We are honored to collaborate with Tommy Thompson, a virtuoso accordionist, and Rebecca Fromherz, a transcendent soprano, and actress, who will perform as the soloist and the narrator, respectively.
Rebecca Fromherz Vocal Soloist
Will sing two opera arias on the program: the Air of Solome from Herodiade by Jules Massenet, and an aria from Die Tote Stadt by Erich Wolfgang Korngold.
Rebecca Fromherz will also sing two opera arias on the program: the Air of Solome from Herodiade by Jules Massenet, and an aria from Die Tote Stadt by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. The concert will include the Overture to Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdi, the Theme from Lawrence of Arabia by Maurice Jarre, Armenian Dances Part 1 by Alfred Reed, Of Blood and Stone – The Pyramids of Giza by Julie Giroux, and Klezmer Classics, arranged by Johan de Meij.
This project was made possible, in part, by funding from the Marion County Cultural Corporation.