Summer Concert: Fire

Get ready for an unforgettable summer concert‑film experience with “Summer Concert: Fire,” a blazing showcase of masterful music and soaring performances. Under the inspiring baton of Maestro Joe Davies, the orchestra delivers a program that feels both fresh and timeless—fueled by the electric energy of fire. The evening opens with **Georg Friedrich Händel’s “Music for the Royal Fireworks,”** a legendary 1749 suite written for the royal fireworks in London’s Green Park. Celebrating the end of the War of the Austrian Succession and the signing of the Treaty of Aix‑la‑Chapelle, the piece’s jubilant fanfares immediately set a triumphant tone that reverberates around the world. Next, enjoy **Manuel de Falla’s “Ritual Fire Dance,”** a stirring movement from “El amor brujo.” Flanked by rapid trills and ornaments reminiscent of Rimsky‑Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee,” this fiery dance evokes ancient fire‑worship rituals, capturing the moment when performers leap and swirl around blaze. From there the stakes rise to a grand romance with **Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B♭ minor (Op. 23).** Reuben Moisey—runner‑up of the 2025 WMSO Young Musician Concerto Competition—takes the stage as the incandescent soloist, breathing new life into this beloved masterpiece that has enchanted audiences since 1875. The program continues to ignite with a modern twist: the triumph‑filled score of **John Powell’s “How to Train Your Dragon.”** Released from the successful film, Powell’s soaring themes, nominated for an Academy Award, bring a contemporary spark to the narrative of fire and courage. Finally, the concert culminates with **Sergei Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite (1919).”** Written for the 1910 Paris season of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, this ballet and orchestral work introduces the enchanting yet formidable Firebird legend. Its success at the Opéra de Paris launched Stravinsky’s international reputation—and its bold, chromatic energy continues to mesmerize listeners today. Don’t miss this explosive, year‑long celebration of music’s most passionate form. For details and tickets, visit our official page to secure your place at the fire‑filled concert that will keep you moving well into the new season.