The Missouri Symphony is preparing for its last performance of this year’s Firefly Music Festival on Saturday.
The orchestra had a morning rehearsal Friday before it takes the stage of the Missouri Theatre at 7 p.m. Saturday.
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The final concert of the musical festival will start with a program dedicated to composer Edward Elgar.
The concert will also feature a solo performance by Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center cellist Nicholas Canellakis. The New Yorker named Canellakis as “superb young soloist,” and The New York Times called him “impassioned … (with) the audience seduced by (his) rich, alluring tone.”
The conductor of the orchestra, Wilbur Lin, says it’s important to experience the musicality of an orchestra performance.
“Having that time to actually listen — that’s my personal philosophy,” Lin said. “I feel like nowadays we are so focused on being able to respond immediately, but having a two-hour period just sit and be with your thoughts and be able to actually listen — that’s what I think the concert is all about.”
Lin said he thinks it’s important for the Missouri community to come to the performance to sit and reflect, and he said the music can be relatable, even without words.
One of the Elgar songs starts with “deep and dark music from the cello, and the orchestra comes later as if the Elgar is dealing with something dark,” Lin said.
Canellakis said the pieces he will play are all about emotion, not technique.
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He said he hopes the community gets an emotional catharsis from the music. He says the best way to experience the music is to come to the performance with an open mind.
“Surrender to the experience,” Canellakis said. “You can’t expect it to keep your attention the way of scrolling on TikTok or social media. If you really do that and allow your mind to go where it goes, you cannot help but have a profound experience.”
The executive director of MSO, Trent Rash, says music helps inspire people. He believes this concert will allow the audience to grow and feel like they have learned something.
Ahead of the concert, Lin will give a talk at the Columbia Art League to recount Elgar’s journey.
Tickets for the show are available on the Missouri Symphony’s website.
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