Bassoonist Taylor Shorey thrills and charms in two Vivaldi concertos!
Jackson, Mississippi — The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra (MSO) launches its remarkable 81st season 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, with the always-popular Beloved Baroque concert in the inviting, intimate setting of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Jackson.
In this “Season of Genius,” the opening chamber concert for 2025-26 celebrates the exceptional music of one of the Baroque era’s greatest composers with no fewer than three Vivaldi concertos, showcasing the virtuosity of MSO Principal Bassoon Taylor Shorey in two of them. The musical interplay of Corelli’s Concerto Grosso and Bach’s splendid second Orchestral Suite complete a program that takes full advantage of St. Andrew’s warm, acoustically rich surroundings.
Sometimes dubbed the “clown of the orchestra” for its quirky look and funny honks, the bassoon leaves that reputation in the dust in Vivaldi’s rapturous music. “Such a gloriously melodic instrument,” MSO Conductor Crafton Beck praised the bassoon. The program’s pair of concertos showcase its magnetic, distinctive sound and sweeping range, and the bassoon triumphs as the liveliest, most compelling voice in the room. A bassoon spotlight is a rare treat, too, with just a handful of such featured roles in recent decades.
Shorey, now starting his third season with MSO, thrills to the challenge. Solos are a passion of his, and the ornamentation in Baroque music welcomes his own flair in performance. “I’m sure it’s going to be a blast,” the young bassoonist said.
Every MSO concert is a singular event — “a one-time piece of art that we’re creating with every performance,” MSO Director of Operations and Principal Horn Richard Hudson said. “This is real. You’re in the room where it happens, to steal a line from Hamilton.”
Beloved Baroque is the first in MSO’s Chamber Concert Series, presented by Keesler Federal Credit Union and offering a cozier, up-close experience for audiences. They also rate as Shorey’s favorites for the resonance of the venues, collaboration with colleagues and the chance to dabble in the quieter, more sensitive and nuanced side of playing.
Tickets are general admission – $28 for adults and $5 for students, kindergarten through college (with valid student ID).
Purchase advance tickets at www.msorchestra.com or contact Patron Services at 601-414-6005. Tickets will be on sale at the door if capacity permits and seating is available.
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: Beloved Baroque, Chamber Series Concert
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 6, 2024
Where: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral, 305 E. Capitol St., Jackson, MS
Website: msorchestra.com
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