On Saturday, February 20, The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra performed their third concert of the season, titled “A Night at the Opera.” In addition to the KSO, the performance also featured Lara Neves as mezzo-soprano.
The performance began with the overture from Franz von Suppé’s Poet and Peasant. Although von Suppé wrote several works in the course of his career, only this and one other piece–the overture from Light Cavalry–are still commonly performed. Poet and Peasant Overture is notable for the contrast created by its sudden shifts in style and tone.
After introducing himself, KSO conductor Joel Neves then moved on the next piece, Otello, Act IV by Giuseppe Verdi, with Ms. Neves singing the aria, and supertitles in the back of the stage as well as notes in the program providing an English translation for the lyrics. Dr. Neves remarked on the irony of conducting his wife in this work: based on William Shakespeare’s Othello, Act IV concerns Othello’s wife Desdemona, who knows that her husband (incorrectly) suspects her of infidelity and plans to kill her. Otello is notable because, while most great works are written before the composer turn 53, Verdi wrote Otello at the age of 74, an age which it was considered impressive simply to live to at the time. It is now often considered Verdi’s greatest masterpiece.
After a short intermission, the KSO returned to play Georges Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 1 and 2. The suites contain the most popular pieces from the opera of the same name, including the very well known Les Toréadors and Habañera. The suites are often considered to be a sort of “greatest hits” collection for Bizet. Since most sets of composers’ greatest works are drawn from several different greater works, that all of Bizet’s greatest masterpieces are from the same opera shows the greatness of that opera. Indeed, Carmen has long been one of the most performed operas. Ms. Neves again sang the original French arias for two of the works: Habañera and Gypsy Song, again with program notes and supertitles providing English translations.
The KSO will return for one more performance this season. The Bernstein Beat, featuring the works of Leonard Bernstein, and will feature his daughter Jamie as narrator. It will also feature some of the most technically difficult music the KSO has worked on all season, and as such it has already begun preparing for the concert. It will be performed on April 17.

George Frideric Handel’s Messiah returned to the Rozsa Center Saturday, December 5 for the first time since 2004. The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra, directed by Joel Neves, and the Michigan Tech Concert Choir, directed by Susan Byykkonen, as well as soloists Ann Campbell, Lara Neves, Charles White, and Gregory Campbell, teamed for a highly successful performance. Although most performances of Messiah today are limited to about half of the first part of the oratorio, followed by the famous “Hallelujah,” Saturday’s concert saw selections from all three parts, including almost all of the first part as well as significant portions of the second and third parts.
One of the major aims of the performance, according to Dr. Neves, was to capture as authentic a baroque experience as possible. Until the mid-20th century, performances of Messiah usually used a version of the work created by Mozart, which added instruments to the work that had not existed when Handel originally wrote it. In contrast, significant portions of the orchestra, specifically many of those brass and woodwinds instruments that did not exist in Handel’s time, were not part of this performance. In addition, Dr. Neves directed the orchestra to use a more baroque style of playing, which he described as “quick tempos, light articulations, and a bouncy feeling,” in contrast to the “Romantic” style common in Mozart’s time and often used in performances until recently.
This performance was not Dr. Neves’ first experience with Messiah, either; however, when he had worked with it before, he had worked on different movements, and had only done “about a quarter of the oratorio.” He described his experience directing this performance positively, saying that beginning the project was stressful but later on is “when the magic happens.” He also spoke well of the Concert Choir, calling them “awesome,” and that “they are very accomplished.”

The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra had its first performance of the year on Saturday, October 17. The concert was a celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn, and featured selections from his most famous work, the music from William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Mendelssohn, whose music had a significant conservative streak and who disdained many of his contemporaries from their radicalism in music (and thus earned himself their disdain), was until recently somewhat unpopular. However, his reputation has rehabilitated itself somewhat as orchestras around the world celebrate his two hundredth anniversary (which actually happened in February). The KSO also performed Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody and Igor Stravinsky’s Suites No. 1 and 2 for Chamber Orchestra.
The event, which took place at the Rozsa Center, was generally well attended. Following the performance, the audience was invited to the lobby for free cookies and lemonade, and had the chance to meet director Dr. Joel Neves.
The event was Dr. Neves’ first performance with the KSO. Neves, who before working with the KSO had conducted in Cedar City, Utah, was impressed with the result of the concert. “I thought it was outstanding,” Neves told the Lode. “Everyone responded with great energy… it was a thrilling first concert.” He further remarked that the KSO was “outstandingly talented and dedicated.”
The KSO has already begun rehearsing for its next performance. On December 5, it will team up with the Michigan Tech Concert Choir will present George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. Other concerts scheduled for the year are “A Night at the Opera” on February 20, and “The Bernstein Beat,” featuring Jamie Bernstein, on April 17.

The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra will have their first performance of the season on Saturday, Oct. 17. The KSO, directed by Dr. Joel Neves, contains many Michigan Tech students in its membership. The theme of the concert is the 200th anniversary of composer Felix Mendelssohn, whose music to Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be performed at the concert.
Mendelssohn was born in 1809, and became known as a musical prodigy early in life. He wrote his first symphonies at the age of 12, and wrote the Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in 1826, when he was only 17 years old (the rest of the music was not written until 1843, 17 years later). Mendelssohn also composed a number of symphonies, concertos, and choral works. An except from one of these choral works, a celebration of the invention of the printing press, would later be adapted as the tune for the popular Christmas hymn “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
The concert is Dr. Neves’ first with the KSO. Dr. Neves has received B.A. and Master’s degrees in orchestral conducting from Brigham Young University, and a doctorate from Arizona State University. He has previously conducted the Orchestra of Southern Utah and the Cedar High Orchestra. In addition to his duties as conductor of the KSO, He is an Assistant Professor of Music at Michigan Tech, and teaches music theory and history.
The KSO concert begins at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 17. Tickets cost $15 to the general public and $7 for people age 18 or younger, and can be ordered online through Michigan Tech’s ticket service at www.tickets.mtu.edu. Tickets are free to Michigan Tech students with a Tech ID through the Experience Tech program.

“Echoes of the North” will be presented by the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Rozsa Center. This is the final season for Milton Olsson before he retires from his position as professor of music and music director of the Keweenaw Symphony and the Concert Choir.
Evan Premo (double bassist and composer), winner of the distinguished Albert A. Stanley Medal as the outstanding 2008 graduating senior of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance, will perform the stunning Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra by Finnish composer Jukka Linkola. Evan Premo is an active chamber musician performing regularly at Carnegie Hall, Juilliard, and does outreach performances around New York City as a member of Ensemble ACJW.
Premo has performed concerti with numerous orchestras and has collaborated with such artists as Andrés Cárdenes, Yizhak Schotten, Katherine Collier and the Formosa String Quartet.
The premiere of “Fall Storm on Lake Superior,” a multimedia work for orchestra and narrators composed by Evan Premo, plus appearances by his family band, White Water, and soprano Mary Bonhag will make this an unforgettable occasion in the Rozsa Center. Be sure to come join the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra for a great night of entertainment.
“KSO concerts offer symphonic experiences, accomplished guest artists, innovative programming, fruitful collaborations and exciting premieres. The orchestra’s cosmopolitan programs feature new work by living composers as well as living works by composers from every period of history.”
For information about the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra, including how to join the Orchestra, go to www.vpa.mtu.edu or contact the Department of Visual and Performing arts.
To buy tickets or get more information about the performance contact the Rozsa center (487-3200) or visit their Web site www.rozsa.mtu.edu.

For over three decades, Milton Olsen has been the conductor of both the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and the Michigan Tech Concert Choir. Sadly enough, this will be his concluding year at Tech. In light of his pending retirement, Milton Olsen has prepared a momentous final season entitled The Season of Memories. This past Saturday at the Rozsa Center, the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra teamed up with the Bergonzi String Quartet for a concert that officially commenced the Season of Memories.

Read the full story