Sunday’s performance by the Iola Area Symphony Orchestra at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center will be a “Scandinavian Smorgasbord.” The performance begins at 3 p.m.
The program will begin with the prelude from “Holberg Suite” by Grieg, a suite of five movements based on 18th century dance forms. “Finlandia” by Sibelius was composed for the Press Celebrations of 1899, a covert protest against increasing censorship from the Russian empire.
“Mamma Mia!,” a jukebox musical based on the songs of ABBA, a Swedish pop group, will close out the first half of the program. The music was showcased in a recent movie of the same name, telling the story of a young girl on a Greek island who wants to invite her father to her wedding, but she isn’t sure who he is. She invites three possible candidates in hopes of discovering the truth.
The second half of the program will include “Triumphal March” by Grieg and Reibold. This musical selection celebrates the life of King Sigurd I of Norway. “Swedish Rhapsody” is by Hugo Alfven, a Swedish composer, conductor, violinist and painter.
Concluding the program will be “Peer Gynt Suite, No. 1, Op. 46” by Grieg. The music tells the story of Peer Gynt, an 18th century self-centered adventurer from a literary work by Henrik Ibsen. The character was meant to be a satire of Norwegian personality traits.
Conductor for the symphony is Dr. Gregory E. Turner of Fort Scott, in his 17th year with the orchestra.
Turner joined the faculty of Fort Scott Community College in 1986, became head of the music department in 1991 and chairman of the Division of Communication and Fine Arts in 2001. He also serves as music director at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Scott.
The orchestra features musicians from Iola, Neodesha, Fort Scott, Overland Park, Chanute, Pleasanton, Moran, Buffalo, Pittsburg and Uniontown.
Tickets will be sold at the door for $3 for adults. Students and children will be admitted free of charge.
Iola symphony to perform Sunday
