Tickets on sale to hear rare 'Red Violin'

DOWNEY - The red carpet comes to Downey on Saturday evening, Feb. 1, beckoning into the Civic Theatre an audience soon to be dazzled by the glittering art display in the lobby and a sumptuous performance by the Downey Symphony Orchestra.Music Director Sharon Lavery has chosen a marvelous program that includes Edvard Grieg's delicious Holberg Suite and Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings. If you think you don't know the Adagio for Strings, your soul does. Your soul has heard it. Within moments you'll remember, and feel yourself in the presence of a healing, affectionate companion. In Antonio Vivaldi's "Four Seasons," the stellar soloists on this occasion -- indeed there are two -- are Elizabeth Pitcairn and the one, the only, the venerable, the magnificent Stradivarious violin she plays so gloriously and guards with her life. This is the famous Red Violin, subject of a classic motion picture made in 1998, starring Samuel L. Jackson. What's that? You've never seen that movie? Well, come on over to the same Downey Civic Theatre in the afternoon, walk the red carpet and see it for free. No reservations, no tickets. The film begins at 2:30, is R rated (oooh), and you'll be out by 5, leaving time for supper and an easy return trip for the evening's concert at 8. Parking is free too. If you arrive around 7:15 you can hear Sharon Lavery's discussion of the music to be performed, always enlightening. Wine in the patio, photo ops and autographs afterward. The Theatre is at 8435 Firestone Blvd., and tickets, going fast, are available in the box office, Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (562) 861-8211or visit our website, downeysymphony.org.

********** Published: Jan. 23, 2014 - Volume 12 - Issue 41