ALEXANDRIA — More than 120 musicians will fill the Alexandria Area High School Performing Arts Center this weekend to perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.
To perform this famous 200-year-old work — considered one of the world's major musical achievements — the Central Lakes Symphony Orchestra will team up with the Central Lakes Symphony Chorale. It is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, May 20.
The symphony contains four movements and concludes with "Ode to Joy," Beethovan's homage to universal brotherhood. It is written in theme and variations form, each variation more complex than the previous.
The Central Lakes Symphony Chorale comprises more than 60 volunteer singers, who will sing their parts completely in German. Some chorale members are professional musicians, while many have sung in their high school and college choirs. Chorale members have been rehearsing weekly for several months.
The chorale will feature four guest soloists from Minnesota and North Dakota: Bass soloist Colt Lien, the director of choral activities at Alexandria Area High School, tenor soloist Joshua Lashinski a physical therapist who sang up in the St. John's Boys' Choir as a child, mezzo soprano soloist Karisa Templeton, on the music faculty at North Dakota State University, and soprano soloist Nicole Lambrecht, an assistant professor of music at Bethel University, and the chorale's rehearsal director.
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The Central Lakes Symphony Orchestra consists of more than 60 volunteer musicians from across central Minnesota. It performs four large symphony concerts annually, as well as one intimate chamber concert. Brad Lambrecht, the artistic and music director since it formed in 2009, will direct the performance.
Tickets are available in advance at Cherry Street Books or in person at the door. Cost is $20 for adults and $5 for students.
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