Gustav Holst’s The Planets is an epic orchestral suite that takes the listener on a majestic journey through the solar system. Each of the seven movements represents the number of planets visible from earth at the time the piece was composed, taking on the astrological character of the planet it represents.

The Planets:
I.    Mars, the Bringer of War (1914)
II.   Venus, the Bringer of Peace (1914)
III.  Mercury, the Winged Messenger (1916)
IV.  Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity (1914)
V.   Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age (1915)
VI.  Uranus, the Magician (1915)
VII.  Neptune, the Mystic (1915)

The concert will also feature Arvo Pärt’s Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, composed as an elegy to mourn the loss of the great British composer.

Come an hour early and attend the pre-concert discussion with the music director.

About the Ensembles:

Under the baton of new Music Director David Neely, the UMD Symphony Orchestra (UMSO) showcases the orchestral program with uncompromising attention to musical excellence. Pushing the boundaries of the orchestral experience, UMSO presents innovative and electrifying performances of orchestral repertoire both modern and classic.

Led by Edward Maclary, the choral ensembles have achieved international renown and offer a wide array of choral experiences with music encompassing all styles and eras. In addition to this season’s on campus choral performances, the UMD Concert Choir participates in annual collaborations with both the National Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, the Music Center at Strathmore and the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Last spring, the UMD Concert Choir performed at Carnegie Hall with the National Symphony Orchestra.