Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra begins 31st season

The Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of maestro Joseph Lee, begins its 31st Season at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at First United Methodist Church, 265 N. Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro.

The first concert of the season, An Evening in Paris, features the symphony in Debussy’s ethereal and dreamlike “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun.” Another concert favorite by Russian (later French and American) composer Igor Stravinsky, “Firebird Suite (1919),” rounds out the first half of the program.

George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” begins a nostalgic second half of the concert. Based on his personal visit to the City of Light, the work evokes the sound, sights and energy of Paris in the 1920s. The concert concludes with the immortal Saint-Saens “Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, Opus 78, Organ,” featuring the mighty Milnar organ with church organist Sandy Arndt commanding the console.

Special arrangements for a pre-concert dining experience at Carrabbas’s Italian Grill at 544 N. Thompson Lane. Contact the Symphony office at 615-898-1862 for details.

The Murfreesboro Symphony was formed in 1981 to provide Murfreesboro and the surrounding Middle Tennessee communities with an opportunity to hear quality orchestra music, to promote instrumental music education, and to enhance an already vibrant arts community.

Supported through ticket sales, individual, corporate, business and governmental gifts, grants and donations, the Symphony this Season will present five regular concerts as well as special concerts Dec. 15 and16 of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” with the Dance Theatre of Tennessee at MTSU’s Tucker Theatre; and the second annual Family Concert January 26 featuring musicians from the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra and young musicians selected through the Emerging Artist Competition.

Tickets for An Evening Paris, are available by calling the Symphony office of by visiting www.murfreesborosymphony.com. Season Tickets enabling enjoyment of all regular concerts are still available. Tickets for special programs are available via regular outlets.