Toledo Symphony opens season with music inspired by ‘Romeo & Juliet’

Alain Trudel (Toledo Symphony Orchestra photo)

From TOLEDO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Music Director Alain Trudel and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra open the 2022/2023 season with a one-night-only performance on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022 at 8 p.m.  at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Peristyle Theater, 2445 Monroe St., Toledo.

The program features works inspired by Shakespeare’s great romantic play, Romeo and Juliet, including music from Sergei Prokofiev’s iconic ballet, the 1968 classic film, and Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story. This opening concert is part of the ProMedica Masterworks Series with additional support from UBS Financial Services. 

 “The choice of repertoire for our season opener came from reminiscing about our first few concerts together,” says Alain Trudel. “My first few projects as Toledo Symphony Music Director included works by Prokofiev and West Side Story: Film with Orchestra. Pairing music from Bernstein’s Romeo and Juliet story with movements from Prokofiev’s ballet felt natural when planning this opening performance commemorating our five years of making music together.” 

 Beginning in September, the Toledo Symphony celebrates its 79th season and Alain Trudel’s 5th season as Music Director. The program on Saturday evening features Nino Rota’s Theme from Romeo and Juliet, Sergei Prokofiev’s Suite from Romeo & Juliet, Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, as well as Hector Berlioz’s Scene d’amour from Romeo & Juliet, regarded as one of Berlioz’s finest and most original works. 

 “The love scene from Berlioz’s own Romeo and Juliet oratorio is, in some ways, the heart of the concert, both epic and intimate, it is a personal favorite of mine,” continues Trudel. “Nino Rota’s Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet provides a cinematic appetizer to this selection of romantic favorites.” 

Visit toledosymphony.com, stop by the Box Office located at 1838 Parkwood Avenue, or call 419-246-8000, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.