The Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio was formed in 2008, and though the group's history is a short one, their November 7 event at the San Antonio Museum of Art has a 100-year time time frame. The event celebrates composer Benjamin Britten.
"People all over the world are celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth," said Paul Montalvo, the artistic director of the Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio.
Along with works composed by Britten, the orchestra is also presenting music that influenced him -- including Purcell, Schubert and Mahler. The group is bringing in a New York conductor for the performance:
"[It's] Francisco Nunez out of New York City," Montalvo said. "He’s the conductor for the Young Peoples’ Chorus out of New York City, and obviously conducts orchestral concerts across the world. Elena Galvan out of San Francisco will be our guest Soprano."
Montalvo said as a long-time firefighter for the city, classical music enriches his life:
"I guess I would consider myself an everyday guy," Montalvo said. "I’m a firefighter for San Antonio for the last eighteen and a half years, and without this music my life would be very different I think, and very empty at times."
- Learn more about the performance at: www.chamberorchestrasa.org/centennial-benjamin
