Music of Our Time

By SOFIA SINGHER

The Delaware Valley Chamber Orchestra (DVCO) returns to the Tusten Theatre on Saturday, June 17 at 8:00 p.m. with “Music of Our Time,” an annual concert featuring the works of area composers. Over the past six years this dedicated and spirited ensemble has premiered dozens of new compositions, many of which were commissioned by them. This year, three of the five programmed pieces are world premiers.

“The Delaware River” by Livingston Manor resident David Tcimpidis was premiered by DVCO in 1998 to unanimous acclaim. Tcimpidis’ celebration of the “great and beautiful river” is principally lyric in character and illustrates sites from Port Jervis up to East Branch Headwaters in Grand Gorge.

“Christina the Astonishing, Patron Saint of Psychiatrists” by Joe Hannan of Callicoon is the first of an operatic triptych of saints written by Hannan and Mary Griffin and was first performed at the Whitney Museum in 1994. Christina was named the patron saint of psychiatrists by Pope John XXIII. In this retelling of her story, Christina returns to New York City at the end of the twentieth century.

“Main Street” by Kenneth Somerville of Monticello, an exquisite one-movement piece taken from his “Catskill Suite” and inspired by the beauty of the region, will have its premier.

As will “Andante and Allegro II” by Roy Singer of Monticello, whose work is becoming more tonal and concerned with communicating with the audience.

The third new work is “The Book of Revelation, A Tone Poem for Orchestra” by Kerhonkson’s Nancy Wegrzyn. It is structured in six sections: “Alpha - Omega,” “Seven Horsemen,” “Satan Chained,” “The Fall of Babylon,” “The Divine Warrior” and “Alpha—Omega.”

The orchestra will be under the direction of Michel Singher of Narrowsburg.

The Tusten Theatre is located at 208 Bridge Street in Narrowsburg. Admission is $12, $10 for students and seniors. For information or reservations, call 845/252-7576.