Who: New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
What: Symphony Under the Stars
When: May 23 and 30, 2009.  8 p.m.
Where: Rio Grande Zoo , 2601 Central Ave. NW, Albuquerque, NM
Contact: (505) 944-2547

The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra’s popular Symphony Under the Stars concerts return to the Rio Grande Zoo May 23 and 30. This year’s two programs include a concert featuring patriotic favorites and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture on May 23, followed by a program highlighting the music of George Gershwin with pianist Hyperion Knight and the NMSO Chorus on May 30. NMSO Resident Conductor Roger Melone will conduct both programs.

A program that has proven wildly popular in the past, the annual “Stars, Stripes and the 1812 Overture” concert on May 23 will feature the symphony performing Sousa marches, a salute to the armed forces, New Mexico’s official state song, America the Beautiful and more, all culminating with Tchaikovsky’s classic.

Perhaps America’s most popular composer, George Gershwin’s music combines symphonic brilliance with virtuoso piano and jazz sensibilities. The May 30 concert will feature two of his most popular pieces: Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris. This second Symphony Under the Stars concert will also feature works such as Leonard Bernstein’s overture to Candide and Stephen Sondheim’s Send in the Clowns.

Local baritone Stephen Lewis makes his debut performance as an orchestral soloist in the “Stars, Stripes and the 1812 Overture” concert.

Taking on Rhapsody in that concert will be pianist Hyperion Knight, who last performed with the NMSO on a pops program in 2007. Stereophile magazine called his Gershwin by Knight album “a recording that could almost serve as a primer for the qualities of rhythmic and dynamic grace,” while his recording of romantic piano transcriptions, The Magnificent Steinway, was welcomed as “one of the most enjoyable CDs of recent years” by CD Review.

The NMSO Chorus will also perform A Tribute to Gershwin, a medley, on the May 30 program. Under the direction of Melone since 1983, the NMSO Chorus has gained national acclaim. Performing a wide array of challenging works with the orchestra, the chorus has also performed at the Bravo Vail Valley Music Festival with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Rochester Philharmonic each summer since 2006. The chorus was also honored by the Albuquerque Arts Alliance in 1999 with the Bravo Award for Excellence in Musical Performance.

Both concerts begin at 8 p.m.

General admission lawn seating for both performances is $15 per person while reserved chair seats are $28 each. Seats at four-place tables are $45 each, $41 per seat if purchased as a pair or $36 per seat if all four places at the table are purchased. Gourmet food baskets for two are also available for purchase before the concert dates, priced at $54 with wine or $39 with sparkling cider. Tickets and food baskets may be reserved by calling 505-881-8999, online at nmso.org or in person at the NMSO Box Office at 4407 Menaul NE (just east of Washington) in Albuquerque. No student rush tickets will be sold for these events.