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Beyond Earth: NMPhil kicks off Power Concert series with 'Bruckner Meets Sci-Fi!'
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The music of composer Anton Bruckner foreshadowed the sweeping styles of John Williams鈥� sci-fi symphonies.
The New Mexico Philharmonic鈥檚 opening Power Concert on Sunday, Oct. 13, will showcase Bruckner鈥檚 Symphony No. 4 paired with Williams鈥� 鈥淔lying Theme鈥� from 鈥淓.T. the Extra-Terrestrial鈥� and 鈥淒arth Vader鈥檚 Theme鈥� from 鈥淪tar Wars.鈥� The concert takes place at Immanuel Presbyterian Church.
Richard Strauss鈥� tone poem 鈥淎lso sprach Zarathustra,鈥� otherwise known as the theme from 鈥�2001: A Space Odyssey,鈥� will open the concert.
鈥淚 always open the Power Concerts with the Strauss,鈥� said Roberto Minczuk, New Mexico Philharmonic music director. 鈥淧eople love that and enjoy hearing that. It鈥檚 classical music that made its way into pop culture.鈥�
This year marks Bruckner鈥檚 200th birthday.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a very important composer of classical music,鈥� Minczuk said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 admired in countries like Germany, Austria and the U.K. The sounds he created with his symphonies are out of this world.
鈥淵ou have this extra-terrestrial feel with Bruckner鈥檚 music,鈥� Minczuk continued. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a very spiritual composer. He鈥檚 always seeking something beyond Earth.鈥�
The concert marks the third season the orchestra has offered the power concerts, designed for listeners who know little about classical music or for those interested in learning more. Informality rules; no tuxes and tails for the musicians.
鈥淭hese are concerts where we talk about the composer, we talk about the instruments,鈥� Minczuk said.
鈥淲e always have families with children, so it鈥檚 quite an informal setting,鈥� he added.
The performances usually last just 60 to 70 minutes, compared to the more typical two-hour classical concerts.
