The Newport Symphony Orchestra 2019 season started with a bang this year at the Performing Arts Center under the baton of Music Director Adam Flatt. The program began on a patriotic note with Gunther Schuller’s “Music For A Celebration”, featuring a rendition of the National Anthem with two brass choirs blaring out from each of the upper balconies. This was followed by "Coastal Vistas", a gorgeous montage of images of Newport, its people who live and work here, and the natural surroundings of Lincoln County taken by local residents, projected onto a large screen while the orchestra performed Our Town by Aaron Copland. This was accompanied by the contemplative and restful “The Enchanted Lake” by Anatoly Liadov. "Coastal Vistas" was done in collaboration with Westwater Arts, the Yaquina Arts Association Photographers, Lincoln County 4-H, and the Lincoln County Historical Society.
After intermission, the audience was treated to “Scheherazade” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, which tells the story of a young woman held captive by an evil sultan whom she must keep entertained by stories of adventure to save her own life. This piece is filled with bombastic rhythms and soaring melodies, featuring the solo violin of NSO concertmaster, Casey Bozell. A standing ovation for the outstanding performance was well deserved. Many thanks to the nearly 70 local photographers and the Lincoln County Historical Society who contributed over 700 images to this concert and to the Yaquina Art Association Photographers who set up displays in the lobby of all the photos for patrons to enjoy.
