CMA presents its third classical concert of the season

Editor's note: The concert date was originally incorrect in the story below. The story has been updated with the correct information. The Globe-News regrets the error.

Chamber Music Amarillo is scheduled to perform its third classical concert of the season, Pepe Romero and Beethoven 7, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts.

The concert program will consist of many well-known pieces including Mozart's overture to his opera "Titus"; Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez"; and Beethoven's "7th Symphony".

CMA Artistic Director David Palmer spoke about the unique opportunity that the public will get from hearing the 7th Symphony.

“When he (Beethoven) wrote that symphony originally, the number of performers performing that piece at that time, much like many of the symphonies of his time, would have been approximately the same numbers as we will have on stage so it kind of gives the audience an opportunity to hear how Beethoven would have heard it,” Palmer said.

“This particular concert features a very famous guitar player, Pepe Romero, who has played all over the world, and with his family-based guitar quartet,” he added.

According to Palmer, this will be Romero’s third performance in Amarillo, with his last performance here in 2002. The concert will also include Conductor Michael Palmer and CMA’s chamber orchestra, The Amarillo Virtuosi.

Romero will be performing a guitar solo for the piece "Concierto de Aranjuez" by Joaquin Rodrigo and spoke about how the piece, originally written about acceptance after the passing of a child, correlates with the events that are occurring in the world today.

“This piece is a piece of love, it’s a piece of hope, it’s a piece of finding comfort after a tragedy, and it is absolutely the most appropriate piece of music to play now with what we are going through... with the pandemic and with everything else, that is why we chose to perform this piece now,” Romero said.

Michael Palmer, conductor, spoke about his long-time friendship with Romero and his excitement to perform.

“Playing with him is such a joy and we're going to be playing a very important piece... it's like going to a museum and experiencing the art, so come and listen with an open mind and let the music fill your soul,” Michael Palmer said.

There will also be a pre-concert lecture at the concert location led by High Plains Public Radio along with some of the evening’s featured musicians at 6:45 p.m. The pre-concert lecture will last about 20 minutes and attendees will have the opportunity to visit with the musicians.

Tickets for the concert are $40 for adults and $10 for students and may be purchased at the door or in advance at www.amarillosymphony.org or by calling (806) 376-8782.

Chamber Music Amarillo will also present a free family performance at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 8, at the Globe-News Center.

The 45-minute performance will be open to the public and will feature members of the Romero Guitar Institute as well as the musicians and composers that individuals will be able to visit with and ask questions.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: CMA celebrates the new year with its third classical concert of the season