LIMA — The Lima Symphony Orchestra is set to return for a new season with a special show, “Korngold and the Hollywood Sound,” this Saturday.
The orchestra will perform themes from movies including “The Godfather” and “Casablanca” accompanied by Grammy-winning violinist Charles Yang at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Veterans Memorial Civic Center in Lima.
“It is our season opening concert and we are incredibly excited to open the season with this particular program and artist,” LSO Executive Director Elizabeth Brown-Ellis said. “We finished last season with music from John Williams and people loved it. This concert was already planned at that time so we didn’t necessarily create it because of that, but we think it’s a terrific follow-up to the excitement of that concert and a great way to kick off the season.”
Brown-Ellis said that the audience should be excited to see what Yang, who was recognized with his group Time for Three as much for his pop resume as his classical resume, can do.
“They are dynamic, exciting and charismatic musicians, but Charles is just a rock star in the classical music field,” she said. “He has so much energy and stage presence that I don’t think you can begin to appreciate or understand how electrifying his performance is going to be until you see it.”
Yang will also perform music with the orchestra from the movies “Psycho” and “Howl’s Moving Castle,” but it is the encore that Brown-Ellis said she is most excited to hear.
“I happen to know what it is,” she said. “I will not spoil the surprise, but it is going to have people on their feet.”
Most important, though, is that the audience leaves the show with an appreciation for the art.
“Saying that classical music is for everyone and that it is interesting and complex and layered is kind of hokey,” Brown-Ellis said. “This isn’t your grandfather’s symphony anymore, and I think people should come expecting something that they’re going to get excited about hearing. Maybe they haven’t been in a symphony since they were children, but this is absolutely the time.”
And this is still only the beginning for this season.
“It sets the tone for the rest of the season,” Brown-Ellis said. “We wish we could have Charles going in every concert, but of course, we can’t. But we still have a really compelling and diverse season where what we are doing in October is completely different than November. I would just encourage people to take a look at our offerings and find the concerts that appeal to you because there is something for everyone.”
For more information on this year’s LSO schedule or to purchase tickets for this or any show, visit the orchestra’s website.
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.
