03 Mar 2025 Conway Symphony Orchestra announces March 15 concert
The Conway Symphony Orchestra returns to the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts in “Origin Stories: London Bridges.” Conductor Israel Getzov, now in his 20th season with the orchestra, narrates and conducts the concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15, in the Windgate’s concert hall. The concert presents the CSO as a 40-piece chamber orchestra, which is smaller in scale than its usual 75-85 players. Because of its size, the chamber orchestra offers a cleaner, more intimate sound than the larger ensemble.
The acoustics of the 450-seat concert hall are well-suited to this size orchestra, as is the evening’s repertoire. CSO oboist César Blas is featured in Vaughan-Willliams’ Oboe Concerto and Gabriel’s Oboe from the movie “The Mission.” The orchestra completes the concert with Haydn’s Symphony No. 104, his final symphony.
The title of the concert, “Origin Stories: London Bridges,” speaks to the fact that each piece has a connection to the city of London.
“The two principal works, although composed 150 years apart, capture the essence and energy of England in their respective eras,” said Israel “Izzy” Getzov, CSO Music Director. “The pastoral beauty and serene landscapes of Vaughan Williams’ Oboe Concerto premiered in 1945, alongside the grandeur and lively spirit of Haydn’s 104th Symphony, ‘London,’ which was first performed in 1795.”
Maestro Getzov will tell the complete stories of the compositions during the concert from the podium.
The lobby and box office open one hour before the performance, at 6:30 pm. Purchase tickets by calling 501.470.7572, coming to the box office, or at conwaysymphony.org. Adult tickets are $30-60. UCA faculty/staff save $10 on adult ticket purchases; student tickets are $15, with $9 UCA student rush tickets available Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and one hour before the show at the box office. Children’s tickets are $15 with an adult ticket purchase only through the box office. The Windgate Center is located at the corner of Bruce Street and Donaghey Ave. on the UCA campus, 2150 Bruce Street. Parking lot access is on Donaghey Ave.
For additional information on the concert and how to buy individual concert tickets go to the CSO website at conwaysymphony.org or the CSO Facebook page facebook.com/conwaysymphony.
