The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (WSO) will welcome back a beloved guest artist for their next performance, All My Memories, while also reflecting on the pandemic era and its effect on the organization, musicians, and community at large. Taking place on Saturday, January 17 at 2:00 pm, the concert will feature piano prodigy Maxim Lando, who was first scheduled to perform with the WSO in 2020 before eventually rescheduling for May 2023. In addition, the WSO will host the Festival of Ideas in the week leading up to the concert, a series of smaller performances and panels designed to further explore the themes surrounding the performance. Support for All My Memories comes from Harold and Roanne Burech and Kim and Holly McClusky. The Festival of Ideas is sponsored by John and Gail Looney and Wheeling Heritage. The WSO Capitol Series is sponsored by WesBanco.
The concert will feature three musical selections: contemporary composer Missy Mazzoli’s Sinfonia for Orbiting Spheres, Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto no. 2, and Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony.
“This performance will be a special one for many in our orchestra, including me,” says WSO Music Director John Devlin. “Beethoven’s Seventh is the piece we were rehearsing before our March 2020 Masterworks when our Executive Director and Board President came on stage and told us we would have to postpone the performance due to rising health concerns. I am so eager to finally bring it to the WSO stage and discuss the piece alongside ideas of hope, resiliency, and perseverance that our community showed during that challenging time.”
Guest artist Maxim Lando will perform one of the most well-known and dynamic piano concertos, Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto no. 2. Originally scheduled to perform in 2020, Lando ultimately returned to play during Rising Above in May of 2023 to rave reviews. After the performance, Devlin immediately asked Lando to return for a future season.
Festival of Ideas
Leading up to All My Memories will be the Festival of Ideas. This free series is designed to give concertgoers an opportunity to explore the themes of the performance in depth. This year’s theme is “Resiliency, Reflection, Remembrance: The Wheeling Symphony Five Years Post-Pandemic.”
Festival of Ideas will begin Monday, January 12 at 12:00 pm for a special Lunch with Books: Extra at the Ohio County Library. This performance and panel discussion will feature Devlin, WSO Principal Bassoon Andy Sledge, West Virginia Poet Laureate Marc Harshman, Professor of Sociology Dr. Daniel Renfrew, and Psychologist Dr. Dee Nazzaro.
On Wednesday, January 12, the WSO String Quartet will perform Trinity West in Steubenville, starting at 2:00 pm. A discussion between the musicians, Devlin, and WSO Assistant Conductor Yoona Jeong will accompany the performance.
Festival of Ideas will wrap up on Thursday, January 15 at 7:00 pm with a special recital with Maxim Lando in the Waddington Room at Oglebay Mansion. The events will then culminate with All My Memories on Saturday, January 17, at 2:00 pm at the Capitol Theatre. All events, besides Saturday’s concert, are free to attend.
“All My Memories and the week leading up to the performance will honor the strength and creativity that was shown by the WSO and the community at large during the pandemic,” says WSO Executive Director Marc Zyla. “Whether you attend all of our Festival of Ideas events or only join us for Saturday’s concert, I hope you will join us in celebrating the indomitable human spirit and, of course, enjoying some truly incredible performances.”
TICKETS
Tickets for All My Memories start at $22. College students can attend for free with a student ID. Tickets can be purchased online at wheelingsymphony.com, over the phone at 304-232-6191, or in person at the WSO box office, located at 1025 Main Street, Suite 811, Wheeling, WV 26003 or 304-232-6191.
SCHEDULE
Monday, Jan. 12, 12:00pm – Lunch with Books Extra, Ohio County Public Library
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2:00pm – WSO String Quartet, Trinity West in Steubenville, OH
Thursday, January 15, 7:00pm – Piano Recital with Maxim Lando, Waddington Room at Oglebay Mansion Museum
Saturday, January 17, 2:00pm – All My Memories, Capitol Theatre
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