Press Release

For Immediate Release

Feb. 1, 2010

Contact: Tom Mason, 432-9927

Mobile Symphony presents "French Connection" Feb. 27-28

Emil de Cou, guest conductor

            The Mobile Symphony Orchestra (MSO) offers a musical tour of France on Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. at the Saenger Theatre featuring some of the most popular works by four French composers: César Franck, Claude Debussy, Hector Berlioz and Maurice Ravel. Emil de Cou is guest conductor. A Sunday matinee performance follows on Feb. 28 at 2:30 p.m.

            The evening opens with Franck's Symphony in D minor, one of his final compositions. The concert continues with the sensual and erotic "Afternoon of a Faun" by Debussy. Inspired by a poem from poet Stéphane Mallarmé, Debussy's composition created an entirely new kind of tone poem that influenced the musical trends of his time.

            The second half of the concert begins with a selection from Berlioz' "Romeo and Juliet," and ends with Ravel's most famous and popular work, "Bolero." The piece's steady rhythm and exotic sounds have made it a perfect accompaniment to many film scenes, including Bo Derek's seduction of Dudley Moore in the movie "10."

            De Cou is a familiar face to music lovers in the nation's capital. He joined the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) conducting staff as Assistant Conductor in 2002 and was promoted to Associate Conductor in 2003. He became NSO @ Wolf Trap Festival Conductor in 2005. Before joining the NSO in 2002, de Cou worked primarily with the San Francisco Ballet and for the American Ballet Theatre.

            His conducting position with the NSO's summer series at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts outside Washington, D.C., has allowed de Cou to connect with new and younger audiences in a casual setting by experimenting with adding technology to the concert experience. In 2007, he incorporated the first-ever downloadable podcast (available on iTunes) to accompany a symphony orchestra concert.

            Last summer, he used a familiar social networking tool to reach new audiences at Wolf Trap by writing a series of Twitter messages to share his thoughts during a performance of Beehoven's Symphony No. 6, known as the "Pastoral Symphony." His tweets provided live program notes to enhance the musical experience.

            Since the use of cell phones and electronic devices is prohibited in the Saenger, Mobile audiences will have to forgo de Cou's technology skills, and enjoy his conducting skills and great music enriched with a few traditional remarks from the podium.

            Individual tickets are $15-$55 and can be purchased online at www.mobilesymphony.org, by phone at 251-432-7080, or at the symphony box office, 257 Dauphin Street. Students, K-12, are free for Sunday matinee performances when accompanied by a paying adult through the Big Red Ticket program. All concerts are at the Saenger Theatre, 6 South Joachim St., in downtown Mobile. For more information visit the symphony Web site at www.mobilesymphony.org

###

      The Mobile Symphony has been a regional orchestra for the central Gulf Coast since 1996. Scott Speck serves as music director. In addition to offering a full season of classical and pops concerts, the orchestra serves the area with a wide range of educational and outreach programs including student performances, a string academy, a youth orchestra and a community string orchestra for all ages.

www.mobilesymphony.org