“We are quite anxious to make music together again,” said Peter Stafford Wilson, SSO conductor and music director. “The excitement is palpable, yet there is, of course, a little apprehension about gathering indoors during these times.”
While not on the grand scale of the full complement of orchestra musicians, Wilson has selected a program that will involve 20 musicians – strings, percussion and keyboards with the musicians wearing masks and distanced from each other. He added woodwind and brass players will be further distanced with plexiglass shields to add further protection.
“We are adhering most strictly to CDC guidelines as well as advice gleaned from a number of studies that pertain specifically to orchestra instruments and the way the disperse aerosols that could potentially spread the viruses,” Wilson said.
He added that he wished symphonies were as wealthy as professional sports teams to would allow testing prior to each rehearsal, which isn’t feasible, but rely on the musicians self-monitoring and the audience will be at about 15 percent of the hall’s capacity to safely separate them.
The concert is limited to 225 patrons.
The 20 musicians have had three hour-long rehearsals, allowing for breaks for the aerosols to dissipate. Wilson chose the music for this concert for this complement of players.
SSO executive director Lou Ross said this may be the only such symphony in the state playing live currently as he has heard others have done their shows all virtual. He is impressed by the safety procedures the Performing Arts Center has taken.
There will be no concessions available, patrons will be admitted at staggered arrival times and the show will be about an hour long, so the patrons will not be there long but still have the experience.
“We’re so excited to be back. If you feel good about coming out of your house, this will be a good place to come,” Ross said. “We’re as prepared as we can be to be safe.”
Music includes Debussy’s “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun”; Nino Rota’s Canzona; Cindy McTee’s “The Twittering Machine”; Wagner’s “Siegfried Idyll”; and J.S. Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” arranged by a friend of Wilson’s who works for the Cincinnati Pops.
Wilson is hopeful “Welcome Home” isn’t the SSO’s coda this season. Since the pandemic began, he’s had the added challenge of figuring out the return in accordance with safety.
“Until there is a wide-spread vaccine and people are comfortable returning to large gatherings, our image has to change,” he said. “Our plan is to offer a full season of concerts starting in January. Initially, those will be much like this concert, offering music written for small ensembles.”
Music for those include Copland’s original “Appalachian Spring”; Gershwin’s original setting for “Rhapsody in Blue”; and a transcription by Arnold Schoenberg of Johann Strauss' “Emperor Waltz.” He also has programs ready for full orchestra in hopes that by spring there is a return to such activities.
A limited number of tickets for the “Welcome Home” show are available. For more information, call the Performing Arts Center box office at 937-328-3874. A livestream will also be available at the SSO’s website.