Renowned cellist shines in MSO’s “Emotional Depths” concert
Patrice Jackson holds the spotlight with Shostakovich concerto
Jackson, Mississippi — Mississippi Symphony Orchestra’s “Emotional Depths” concert continues the 80th anniversary season spectacular lineup with powerful pieces and acclaimed international cello soloist Patrice Jackson. The concert is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 16, at Jackson Preparatory School’s Fortenberry Theatre and McRae Stage in Flowood. Thalia Mara Hall is temporarily closed for repairs.
The season’s second concert in the Selby and Richard McRae Foundation Bravo Series resonates with deep feeling and glows with cellist Jackson at its heart. The cellist took top prize at the 2002 Sphinx competition for young Black and Latino string players. She followed her international orchestral and recital debuts in South Africa with a remarkable sweep of musical endeavors, from guesting with symphonies across the country to performing with iconic artists, including Stevie Wonder, Kanye West and Alicia Keys. Jackson is associate professor of cello at the prestigious Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
The St. Louis, Missouri, native has deep family ties to Mississippi – birthplace of both her parents plus home to her extended family in Jackson and McComb – and can count back six generations of musicians in her lineage. A charismatic performer and bright presence, she has been hailed for her effortless facility, phrasing and spontaneity.
MSO Maestro Crafton Beck, who has worked with the cellist in several concerts over the years, praised Jackson’s “extraordinary musical personality.”
For Dmitri Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, Jackson dives in with the intensity and dramatic flourish the Russian composer’s work demands. “Shostakovich went through a lot – he was banned from composing, there was this whole war going on and there were refugees.… You can hear it in his works,” Jackson said. “You can hear a lot of anger, and yet triumphant moments, too. There’s a lot of emotion in the music, and I feel honored to share that with the audience.”
The concerto is paired with traditional repertoire standouts — the lively rhythms of Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances, the exquisite melancholy of Valse Triste by Sibelius (“Second only to his Finlandia, it’s world famous,” Beck noted) and Schumann’s lyric and innovative Symphony No. 4.
Season ticket holders with Conductor, Connoisseur, and Loge reservations will enjoy reserved seating at the new venue. Please see the box office or an usher for assistance upon arrival. All other seats are general admission and are first-come, first-seated.
Individual tickets for the “Emotional Depths” concert are $43 for adults and are $5 for students, kindergarten through college (with valid student ID). Visit msorchestra.com for ticket orders and concert details. Email Patronservices@msorchestra.com or call 601-414-6005 for additional information.
The box office will open at 6:30 p.m. on the evening of the concert. MSO is supported in part by the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Who: Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
What: “Emotional Depths,” MSO Bravo Series concert
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 16, 2024
Where: Jackson Preparatory School’s Fortenberry Theatre & McRae Stage 3100 Lakeland Drive, Flowood