Canberra Wind Symphony: Emerald

Returning to The Street for this third offering of the CWS ‘Colour Concert’ series, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Geoff Grey brings, amongst others, a Capital Region premiere and an Australian premiere.

The first half sees Pulitzer Prize winner Karel Husa’s iconic three movement ‘Apotheosis of this Earth’ (1970) as the bold climax to the season’s focus on the genre’s roots. To quote the composer “the composition was motivated by the present desperate stage of mankind and its immense problems with everyday killings, war, hunger, extermination of fauna, huge forest fires, and critical contamination of the whole environment”. Half a century hence, we question what has changed? This work embraces tension in its front-edge, risk-taking approach.

Following interval Samuel R. Hazo’s vibrant ‘Exultate’ (2003) and James Swearingen’s moving ‘And the Angels called’ (2005) bring excitement, colour and passion to the stage in setting the scene for the event’s brilliant finale.

David Maslanka’s beautiful 2015 ‘Angel of Mercy’ concludes this special event. One of his last works, it’s a triumph of contemporary orchestration, leaving no stone unturned to display the capabilities of the wind orchestra. It’s a true triumph of our time and one that CWS is delighted to present to our guests at The Street.

Come and celebrate this amazing ensemble with 35 of the Capital Region’s finest professional players as they combine to bring only the best wind literature to the stage. Quite simply - they’re captivating, engaging and brilliant! Be quick to secure your tickets for this one-off event.

‘Fresh, entertaining and accessible … It is always a pleasure to uncover or rediscover such incredible, locally based talent’. City News

‘This was a concert of the highest quality, both in conception and execution’. City News