Dearborn Symphony Friday Concert Promises 'Fantastique' Performance

Critically acclaimed celloist Julie Albers will join the Dearborn Symphony on Friday, March 8, for a concert at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center.

A free concert preview begins at 7 p.m., with the concert at 8 p.m.

Albers will perform Schumann’s Cello Concerto with symphony. The romantic, highly expressive piece was described by pre-eminent 20th century cellist Pablo Casals as “one of the finest works one could wish to hear—sublime music from beginning to end!”

This program begins with the delightful Overture to Mignon, a love story and one of the most popular operas of the late 19th century. The concert culminates with Berlioz’ spectacular showpiece, Symphonie Fantastique, a musical tale of hopeless love when a young man’s obsessed love turns from a pastoral dream to a nightmare of jealousy. Its movements are replete with moments of tenderness, visions of suicide and murder, ecstasy and despair — a reflection of the composer’s own obcessed love.

Albers began cello studies at the age of four. She moved to Cleveland during her junior year of high school to attend the Young Artist Program at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She was soon awarded the Grand Prize at the XIII International Competition for Young Musicians in Douai, France, and as a result toured France as soloist with Orchestre Symphonique de Douai.

Albers made her major orchestral debut with the Cleveland Orchestra in 1998, and thereafter has performed in recital and with orchestras throughout North America, Europe, Korea, Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand.

She has won important, international cello competitions and in 2003, she was named the first Gold Medal Laureate of South Korea’s Gyeongnam International Music Competition, winning the $25,000 Grand Prize. Albers is assistant professor and holds the Mary Jean and Charles Yates Cello Chair at the McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University in Macon, GA.

To make a complete night out, the Dearborn Symphony has partnered with local restaurants for “Dinner and a Concert.” Several restaurants will offer a 20 percent discount to symphony ticket-holders on concert nights. Advance reservations are recommended at Andiamo Dearborn, Big Fish, Ciao Ristorante, Double Tree Grille39, The Dearborn Inn, TRIA at The Henry, Kiernan's & Silky’s, La Pita, and Ollie’s.

Tickets ranging from $15 to $30 in balcony, box and lower level are available by phoning the Symphony at 313-565-2424, or at the theater box office at 313-943-2354.

Visit www.dearbornsymphony.org for more information.

This information was provided by the Dearborn Symphony.