Concert soloist to tackle Rachmaninoff Third

DOWNEY - Want to know what's scary? "Scary" has categories, of course, depending on your age and experience. There's Halloween scary for kids, all those gross spiders and moaning ghouls in front yards. Teens have trouble with aliens and acne.I still remember a spooky castle in a black and white movie where hairy gorilla arms pawed at me from a sliding panel in the library. For adults there is the unknown, and that covers a lot of ground. For others, "scary" is the Rachmaninoff Third. Most of us will never have to face down the Rachmaninoff Third. It is a piece by Sergei Rachmaninoff for piano and orchestra, reserved for the most intrepid of concert soloists. It is ferociously difficult. One highly-regarded concert pianist lamented that he had not learned this concerto as a student, when he was "still too young to know fear." But guess what? On Saturday, Oct. 20, in the Downey Theatre, just in time for Scary Season, the Downey Symphony presents the Rachmaninoff Third, played by a fearless man named Keenan Reesor. He'll do the hard stuff. We just listen. Included in this 8 p.m. program, conducted by Music Director Sharon Lavery, are a premiere work by the orchestra's assistant conductor, and Bizet's ever-delightful "L'Arlesienne Suite." For tickets and further information, call the friendly people in the theatre box office (562) 861-8211, or visit our website, downeysymphony.org. Now how scary is that?

********** Published: October 4, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 25