QSO Kicks Off Season In ‘Winds Of Change’

By DOMENICK RAFTER

The Queens Symphony Orchestra will kick off its 58th season with the “Winds of Change” Masterwork Concert Series on Saturday, Oct. 23, at the QSO’s artistic home; the Queensborough Performing Arts Center at Queensborough Community College.

The concert, titled “Wind Serenades,” will feature three pieces; Serenade for Wind Instruments, Cello and Double-Bass in D minor, Op. 44 by Antonin Dvorak, Serenade for Winds in E-flat Major, Op. 7 by Richard Strauss and Mozart’s Serende No. 10 for Winds in B-flat Major, K. 361.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m., but there will be a pre-concert lecture beginning at 6:30 p.m. featuring Maestro Constantine Kitsopoulos, who will begin his fifth season as music director of the QSO. He will preview and explain the selected pieces and also answer questions about the program.

The lecture is free to subscribers and only $5 for ticket buyers. Tickets for the concert are $30 for orchestra seats and $25 for balcony seats. There are discounts for students and senior citizens and groups of 10 or more can get a 20 percent discount.

“Winds of Change” is the first of a series of concerts the QSO will feature in it’s packed 2010-11 season, which also includes the second concert in the “Winds of Change” series, The Voice, to be held at Queensborough on May 14, as well as the QSO’s performance of the opera Rigoletto on April 3, at LeFrak Concert Hall at Queens College. The season will also include concerts focused on children, called “Young People’s Concerts” in December and April.

For more information about “Winds of Change” and the other upcoming events in QSO’s 2010-11 season, call the QSO office at (718) 326-4455, or at qso@queenssymphony.org, or visit the QSO website at queenssymphony.org.

Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125.