Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (WSO) announces Main Street Bank and EQT Foundation present A Not-So-Silent Night with the WSO. The concert will feature guest soprano Larisa Martinez and be conducted by John Devlin. The holiday performance will air on Thursday, December 10 at 7:00 pm on WTRF-CBS and on WTRF.com.
Join the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and Maestro John Devlin from the comfort of your home for Main Street Bank & EQT Foundation present “A Not-So-Silent Night with the WSO.” This one-hour holiday concert will feature guest soprano Larisa Martinez, the world premiere of Gaudete for Orchestra, and a special appearance from the Wheeling Skate Club. Don’t miss this magical holiday celebration from the Cathedral of St. Joseph airing on WTRF-CBS.
“The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra is so happy to present this wonderful holiday concert,” says music director John Devlin. “This year, we are grateful that we are able to bring music safely into your own homes where you can enjoy our talented WSO musicians with your families. The program will be a mix of holiday favorites, reimagined carols, and a few new works, including the world premiere of a piece by LA-based composer Leanna Primiani. I also look forward to introducing WSO audiences to the fantastic soprano, Larisa Martinez. Make sure you join us for what will truly be a magical night from the beautiful Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling!”
A Not-So-Silent Night will present the world premiere of Gaudete for Orchestra, written by Leanna Primiani. Prior to becoming a composer, Ms. Primiani began her career as a conductor, where she channeled her kinesthetic experience of music-making as a conductor into her writing. She has been championed by the Nashville Symphony, the Cabrillo Music Festival, and the Centre de Création Musicale Iannis Xenakis. Additionally, she composes for film and television. Credits include the WIF/Fox Searchlight production of Signal, as well as the remake of the cult classic The Bad Seed, directed by and starring Rob Lowe. Variety’s Jon Burlingame calls the music “one of the most remarkable…scores of the past season.”
“We all need a little cheer right about now, so I decided to write a work for orchestras to play at Christmas concerts,” says Leanna Primiani, composer. “Based on one of the oldest Christmas carols, Gaudete et exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad), the piece weaves in all the familiar favorites! It was great fun for me to focus on something so joyful.”
Highly praised for her warm quality of voice and unique timbre, soprano Larisa Martinez has established a strong, distinctive presence in the classical performance world. In fall 2019, Ms. Martinez made both her Kennedy Center debut at the inaugural REACH festival and her Carnegie Hall Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage debut. Ms. Martinez was recently seen as Violetta in Wichita Opera’s production of La Traviata, and as Maria in a concert version of West Side Story with Lawrence Foster and Michael Fabiano at Festival Napa Valley. She has also collaborated with violinist Joshua Bell on the Emmy-nominated PBS special, Live from Lincoln Center: Seasons of Cuba. For the last two years, Ms. Martínez has been touring with Andrea Bocelli throughout North America including Madison Square Garden, South America, and Europe.
The WSO typically performs Symphony on Ice each December. Faced with the restrictions caused by the pandemic, Maestro Devlin and the WSO team adapted the concert to safely present a holiday program to the community. “When it became apparent that we would not be able to have our Symphony on Ice show this year, we wanted to find a way to bring the joy of music and the holidays to our audience,” says Betsy Delk¸ Interim Executive Director of the WSO. “We are excited to know that ‘A Not-So-Silent Night’ will reach the homes of so many Ohio Valley residents thanks to our presenting sponsors, Main Street Bank and EQT Foundation, as well as the generosity of our concert sponsors.”
This concert is supported by presenting sponsors Main Street Bank and EQT Foundation and by concert sponsors: Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal, Gold, Khourey, & Turak, CFOV Emergency Impact Fund, Paul T. Tucker, The Lynne and Ben Exley Charitable Fund, Ohio Valley Wellness Coalition, Dr. Kenneth and Robin Dunbar, & Dr. Charles & Lori Spadafore. Media sponsorship by WTRF.
More information is available at wheelingsymphony.com.
