Civic Orchestra of Tucson opens season with ‘Masterworks Triumvirate’

Oh will lead the orchestra in “A Masterworks Triumvirate”: Shostakovich’s bright “Festive Overture,” which he composed in 1954 to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the October Revolution; Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, a work inspired by Bohemian folk tunes that he composed in the summer of 1889; and Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major, one of the last pieces Mozart composed before he died in 1791.

All three works share one interesting commonality: All were composed in record time.

• Shostakovich wrote “Festive Overture” over three days in November 1954 for the Bolshoi Theatre, where the work premiered Nov. 6.

• Dvořák spent 2½ months between August-November 1889 working on his Eighth Symphony. He conducted the work’s world premiere in February 1890.

• Then there’s Mozart, a renowned, prolific composer who completed the three-movement Clarinet Concerto in a few weeks ’ time in October 1791. It was his second-to-last work — coming just before his cantata “Laut verkünde unsre Freude” — that he completed before he died on Dec. 5, 1791.

All three works also share the sense of joy and lightness, which was a bigger ask for Shostakovich and Dvořák, whose  works often leaned on the more somber, serious side. The “Festive Overture” lives up to its title with brassy fanfares and a celebratory spirit throughout, while Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 is cheerful and optimistic, a far cry from his more dramatic and, some would say, much darker Seventh Symphony composed six years earlier.

And then there’s Mozart, who even at the end of his short, prolific life managed to find joy and exuberance. Even the slower passages impart a sense of optimism and light.

Civic Orchestra of Tucson’s principal clarinet Philip Evans will solo on the work. Evans comes to the orchestra after a 30-year career that included performing with a half dozen leading orchestras in Southern California from the Los Angeles Philharmonic to the L.A. Mozart Orchestra.

The Civic Orchestra will perform the concert at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Mountain View High School, 3901 W. Linda Vista Blvd. in Marana, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at Catalina Foothills High School, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive. Admission is free; details at cotmusic.org.