In Like a Lion, Out Like… a BIGGER Lion.
March 23, 2025 – The Mariposa Yosemite Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) continues its 20th Anniversary Season with a weekend of exciting Spring Concerts in Mariposa and Yosemite National Park on Saturday, April 12th and Sunday, April 13th.
MYSO 20th Season-Opening Concert, Garden Terrace, Yosemite with Concertmaster Rylan Post on 10-27-24
(Photo Credit: Rie Kobayashi)
The program will open with a bang: Robert Schumann's dramatic "Overture to (Lord Byron's) Manfred," a moody, exciting orchestral showpiece composed only a few brief years before Schumann died in an asylum at 46. Rather than serving as a mere curtain-raiser for his entire choral/orchestral work illuminating Lord Byron's literary "autobiography" Manfred, the Overture is a deftly created stand-alone symphonic movement demonstrating the composer's absolute mastery of both form and content from the height of his powers.
(Pictured - right) Robert Schumann, age 40 in 1850 at the time of "Manfred." Public Domain Daguerreotype
The concert will then offer two of the world's best-known suites of music: Edvard Grieg's "Suites #1 and 2 from Peer Gynt," extracted by the composer from his near-two hours of incidental music composed at the request of Norwegian master playwright Henrik Ibsen for the premiere performances of his own now-classic verse-drama/stage play "Peer Gynt." Movements from those suites include the instantly recognized "Morning Mood," "Åse’s Death," "Arab Dance," "Peer Gynt's Homecoming and Storm," "Solveig’s Song," "In the Hall of the Mountain King" and much more.
(Pictured - left) Georges Bizet, age 37 in 1875 at the time of "Carmen" and final year. Public Domain Photograph
2025 marks the 150th anniversary of both the premiere of Georges Bizet's "Carmen" and the composer's early death at the age of 36. The opera was initially scorned by critics and Bizet died thinking it a failure. But shortly after his death it was re-evaluated as a masterpiece, and has remained one of the most popular operas ever since. "Carmen" is memorably tune-filled, with its two well-known suites providing an endless font of beloved music including the "Toreador Song," the Act I "Prélude," "Séguedille"and "Habanera," "Danse Bohème" from Act II, and the Act IV "Aragonaise," plus more. While the titles may not immediately come to mind, the tunes all will, from their ubiquitous use in pop culture. Thus ending the concert with an even bigger bang than it began.
The orchestra will perform this program under MYSO Founding Music Director/Conductor Les Marsden at Mariposa's First Baptist Church (5005 Frank Wilson Road, off Highway 49 north) on Saturday April 12th at 7:00 P.M., with a 2:00 P.M. Matinee performance the next day (Sunday, April 13th) in Yosemite National Park, in the Garden Terrace (room) at Yosemite Valley Lodge. Complete concert details, as well as Marsden's extensive program notes on the composers, their music - and the background inspirations for this music - are now available on the orchestra's website: http://MYSO.live.
(Pictured - right) Edvard Grieg, circa age 31 in 1875, the year of the premiere of "Peer Gynt" Public Domain Photograph
Advance-purchase discounted tickets for the Saturday, April 12th concert are only $10 for Adults and $8 for Students and are strongly urged Those tickets are securely available through the orchestra's website at http://MYSO.live/tickets. Tickets at the door at the night of the concert increase to $15 for Adults and $10 for Students. There are no tickets for the free (donation suggested) Sunday, April 13th 2:00 P.M. concert in Yosemite with seats available on a first-come-first-seated basis.
The MYSO operates as a program of the non-profit Collaborative Arts and Culture Foundation (CACF) of Mariposa. Donations to the orchestra are tax-deductible and may be made via a link on the orchestra's website or here: Donate to MYSO. Yosemite Hospitality, a subdivision of Aramark - provides generous financial support and facility usage in Yosemite. The MYSO has proudly partnered with the National Park Service and Yosemite National Park's leadership and staff since 2007.
MYSO Sound checking at Mariposa's First Baptist Church, Shirley Lay on Podium on 12-16-23 (Photo Credit: Les Marsden)