Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra sets opening night of 55th season

The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra will offer a fan-friendly program Oct. 14 to open its 55th season.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg, featuring a program of romantic pieces.

The concert will open with Khachaturian’s “Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia,” followed by Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture.”

Daniel Meyer, who has been WSO’s artistic director and conductor since 2010, said the orchestra likes to think of its opening weekend as a celebration, as well as a homecoming for its musicians.

The program includes audience favorites that are melody-driven, which is what he usually chooses for the beginning of each season.

“Part of it is just celebrating the fact that we are able to field a fully professional, top quality orchestra in Greensburg,” Meyer said. “And that we have a beautiful space in which to perform.”

Though the historic theater opened in 1926, Meyer said it’s “acoustically generous” for the orchestra.

Part of the WSO’s success, Meyer said, has been the enthusiasm of its audience and that it hires the best freelancers in the region to perform.

The centerpiece of WSO’s opening night will be Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2” — featuring guest pianist Janice Carissa.

A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and a master’s student at The Juilliard School, Carissa is a Gilmore Young Artist and winner of Salon de Virtuosi.

Meyer said she’s performed around the world, including at the Sydney Opera House and in Carnegie Hall.

“Our job is to catch these artists right at the cusp of their career and celebrate their incredible talent,” Meyer said.

Future WSO concerts will feature other guest soloists.

Meyer said there will be a wide range of attendees at opening night — from people who have been symphony goers for over 30 years to those attending for the first time.

He said he wants attendees to feel comfortable during the performance, as they can wear “whatever they’d like,” whether it be party clothes or casual clothes.

During the program, Meyer said he typically talks to the audience between numbers, acting as a guide through the music and pointing out aspects attendees can listen for.

“You can come as a connoisseur, or you can come knowing almost nothing about classical music,” Meyer said. “Our job is to make you feel comfortable.”

This season will be the first with new Executive Director Michael Rozell at the helm.