Debunking the Myths Surrounding Classical Music Part 1

Part 1

By Rosemary Flores

The El Paso Symphony Orchestra has been the cultural cornerstone of our community for 83 years. Yet many El Pasoan’s have never experienced the beauty, magic and excitement of a live classical performance. There are many reasons for this… most of which are based on misconceptions. We want to take the five most commonly heard misconceptions, debunk them for you and give you a reason to join us and experience the magic of a live concert performed by El Paso’s finest musicians under the baton of our new dynamic leader, Bohuslav Rattay!

 Myth No. 1: Classical music is boring.Classical music can be romantic, passionate, powerful, full of life, love and tragedy. This season the El Paso Symphony is performing works that are inspiring, thought provoking and transforming.

We highly recommend you join us at our opening concerts on September 20 and 21 featuring pianist Vadym Kholodenko, Gold Medal winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. An article in the Dwight’s Journal of Music, (an influential publication in 19th century American musical circles,) called the work a “difficult, strange, wild, ultra-modern Russian Concerto.”  The article also called it extremely brilliant, bizarre at times, and exciting, and asked the question, “could we ever learn to love such music?” We believe we have, as the concerto is now an audience favorite.

The program also includes Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6. Tchaikovsky declared that he had put his “whole soul into this work.”  We have appropriately titled this concert a “Heart of Gold” performance.