25th Annual

Lollipop Concert
for Children
& Families

S an d l e r C e n t e r f o r t h e P e r f o r m i n g A r t s p r e s e n t s SY M P H O N I C I T Y ’ S

THE CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 | 4PM
Daniel W. Boothe, Conductor
Featuring Ballet Virginia & Guest Soloists
from The Governor’s School for the Arts

THE CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS 1

 PROUDLY PRESENTS

THE CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS

BY CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS
JANUARY 7, 2024 | 4PM

Daniel W. Boothe, Conductor Dancers from Ballet Virginia

Shari Barbour, Narrator Music by Camille Saint-Saëns
Rebecca Willett, Pianist Words by Barrie Carson Turner
Angela Zhang, Pianist Illustrations by Sue Williams

I. Introduction and Royal March of the Lion

II. Hens and Roosters
III. Wild Donkeys and Swift Animals
IV. Tortoises
V. The Elephant
VI. Kangaroos
VII. Aquarium
VIII. Characters with Long Ears
IX. The Cuckoo in the Depths of the Woods
X. Aviary
XI. Pianists
XII. Fossils
XIII. The Swan
XIV. Finale

SILENCE YOUR DEVICES and NO PHOTOGRAPHY OR VIDEO

Please disconnect audible electronic signals on watches, pagers, and cell phones before
the start of the performance. Videotaping and flash photography during the concert are not
permitted, except through the permission of Symphonicity.

2 Symphonicity’s 2023-24 Concert Season

 PROGRAM NOTES

Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns

Camille Saint-Saëns lived a long life, and was remarkable for his wide-ranging
intellectual interests and abilities. As a child he was, of course, a precocious
musical talent, but even then he evinced a strong natural interest in almost every
academic subject--including, but certainly not restricted to, astronomy, archaeology,
mathematics, religion, Latin, and Greek. In addition to a life of musical composition
and virtuoso keyboard performance, he also enjoyed success as a music journalist,
champion of early music (Handel and Bach), and leadership in encouraging French
musical tradition. His father died when he was an infant, and he grew into middle age
extraordinarily devoted to his mother--his marriage at the age of forty to a nineteen-
year old did not last long. He simply left the house one day in 1881 and chose never
to see her again; she died in 1950 at the age of ninety-five. Saint-Saëns went on to
live an active life, filling an important rôle in the musical life of France--as performer,
composer, author, spokesman, and scholar. He was peripatetic--researching Handel
manuscripts in London, conducting concerts in Chicago and Philadelphia, visiting
Uruguay and writing a hymn for their national holiday, and vacationing in the Canary
Islands. He celebrated seventy-five years of concertizing in August of 1921 in his
eighty-sixth year, and died a few months later.

The major figure in French musical life before the advent of Debussy and Ravel, in
the face of the ravishing blandishments of the new musical style of the latter two
composers, he nevertheless maintained his position as the grand old man of tradition
in French musical composition. His music exemplified his deep respect for traditional
forms and genres, and, unlike his friend and colleague, Fauré, he contributed
prolifically to all of the genres of nineteenth-century composition—symphonies,
operas, concerti, and more. And, in the midst of all this seriousness, he found time in
the summer of 1886, to compose a gem—and fairly rare example—of genuine humor
in symphonic literature. What is more, one whose droll humor is not compromised by
stooping to cheap effects.

The Carnival of the Animals was composed in an Austrian village, where he was
at work on the grand “Organ Symphony,” so beloved by audiences ever since.
Nevertheless—perhaps as a break in the effort--he was tempted to write this suite of
fourteen movements that humorously depict various animal friends for his students
at the school where he taught (Fauré had been one of them, earlier). It was never
intended for public performance, the composer feeling that it compromised his
reputation as a major composer of dignity and seriousness of purpose. He even
forbade its publication until after his death—and so the first “public” performance
did not occur until 1922, thirty-six years later!

The suite opens with a brief, dramatic introduction, followed by a stately march for
the “King of Beasts” that from time to time is interrupted by the lions’ formidable
roar, depicted by the ferocious, low chromatic octave scales. “Hens and Roosters”
are next, clearly pecking around (no low strings, here), with little clarinet solos and
an amusing rooster crow to top it off. Breakneck scales in the pianos herald the

THE CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS 3

 frenetic “Wild Asses” –and these are not your garden variety Mexican donkeys,
for sure. These asses from Asia are supercharged, and Saint-Saëns’ busy
pianists nail the depiction. The logy tortoises are next, and their ponderously
slow gait is marvelously parodied by a tongue-in-cheek playing of Offenbach’s
famous “Can-can” in the low strings. It’s really slow but you can doubtless
recognize it. Following, a solo contra-bass earnestly sings a doleful little song
for the elephant, without any apology at all for “borrowing” melodies from
Mendelssohn and Berlioz—material that in the original was the essence of
almost ephemeral lightness and grace. Well.

After a jerky little interlude by hopping kangaroos, we stand before a serene

aquarium, as iridescent tropical fish glide to and fro. Saint-Saëns’ musical
imagination then nails the hee-haws of “personages with long ears” with a super
high note in the violins followed by a low “haw.” Next, the familiar descending
third of a relentless cuckoo in a tranquil “piano” forest is easy to spot, played
here by the clarinet—followed by a musical aviary. The flute as an apparently
very happy bird is a familiar musical trope, and here, the pianists help out with
other bird-like sounds. Then, something completely different: Apparently some
student pianists have intruded on our little animal kingdom, and the composer
(an accomplished pianist and teacher) has some fun with the scales every
student pianist has to practice. A note in the score calls for some sloppy novice
playing—as we all have done—from our stalwart keyboard artists.

Fossils are clearly not animals, but some of them undoubtedly were, and so
Saint-Saëns has some fun with the xylophone rattling around like a box of
prehistoric bones in the “Fossiles” movement. Among the many musical quotes
here, listen for “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and some allusions to Saint-Saëns’
own Danse macabre. Opera buffs will recognize Rossini’s “Una voce poco fa,”
played by the clarinet.

Finally, the moment arrives that everyone has been waiting for, and the swan
gracefully glides into view, in the guise of a ‘cello. It’s the only movement that
the composer allowed to be published during his lifetime, and almost everyone
knows it from its use in a thousand contexts. These charming animal vignettes
end with a rousing finale that in sparkling fashion pulls together many of the
motifs and tunes from the previous movements. It’s a perfect example of Saint-
Saëns’ technical skill, as many of the animals jump in to end this musical zoo with
his typical pizzazz. The donkeys, however, have the last say, with unmistakable
“hee-haws” from these brazen equine musical critics.

—Wm. E. Runyan

SAVE THE DATE!

26th Annual Lollipop Concert
Sunday, January 12, 2025

4 Symphonicity’s 2023-24 Concert Season

MEET the MAESTRO
DANIEL W. BOOTHE Daniel W. Boothe is an internationally
award-winning music professional currently
serving as Music Director & Conductor for
Symphonicity and as Commander & Conductor for
the Air National Guard Band of the Southwest in
Ft. Worth, Texas. As a conductor, performer and
recording producer for numerous CD albums,
his live and recorded concerts have reached
over 50 million people in 175 countries. He
has been recognized by the National Band
Association and featured by USAToday where
he was designated as one of America’s top 20
collegiate scholars. Throughout the country, he
is sought after as a music adjudicator and arts
consultant across a wide spectrum of genres.
Of his many accomplishments, he was honored
as a 2019 recipient of the National Medal of
the Arts. He resides in Chesapeake with his wife
Andrea and their five children.

Shari Barbour holds a Master of Music degree

from James Madison University and has served
on the faculties of several colleges and universities MEET the NARRATOR
in Virginia, teaching both flute and guitar. As a SHARI BARBOUR
musician, she has performed as a soloist and
member of chamber ensembles, pit orchestras,
and a Scottish/Irish band. She has also directed
several recognized flute choirs. Bitten by the
“broadcasting bug”, Shari shifted careers and
returned to the classroom to study Radio and
Television Technology. Broadcasting has taken her
to the Mid-West, the Northeast and back to where
she calls “home” - Virginia. An award-winning
popular on-air personality and producer, she is
known for her friendly, smiling voice, creativity
and wit. Shifting careers again, Shari is currently
applying her skills and talent in the studio as a
voice over artist, narrator, writer, and producer.
She has often been called upon to narrate with
local orchestras. Her love of music and laughter she
credits to her mother - her wit and sense of humor
to her father. Heard world-wide, she produces two
short podcasts, ‘60 Second Saga’ and ‘All Those
Notes’; as well as an hour-long program of music
‘A Little Something for Everyone’.

THE CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS 5

MEET the PIANIST Rebecca Willett, a Young Steinway Artist, is a
REBECCA WILLETT pianist and collaborator based in Hampton
Roads. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano
Performance from the Cleveland Institute of
Music where she studied under Kathryn Brown
and Daniel Shapiro as well as a Masters Degree
in Piano Performance from the University of
Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where
she studied with Awadagin Pratt.

Rebecca has worked as a chamber coach

for Hampton Roads Chamber Players and
spent two years performing internationally in a
piano quintet with Lincoln Center Stage. She
performs frequently throughout the area as a
chamber musician, solo artist and orchestral
keyboardist, having performed with the Virginia
Symphony and the Richmond Symphony in their
2021-2023 seasons as well as the Chautauqua
Symphony Orchestra in 2023. She is currently the
music director at Francis Asbury United Method-
ist Church, is on faculty at the Governors’ School
for the Arts and maintains a private studio.

MEET the PIANIST

Angela Zhang is an eleven years old pianist ANGELA ZHANG
currently attending the Greenbrier Middle School in
Chesapeake, Virginia. She grew up in a musical fam-
ily and started her music training when she was five
years old. At age eight, she started taking lessons
with Ms. Rebecca Willett, performing in the Master-
classes with guest artists presented by the Virginia
Symphony Orchestra and Symphonicity Symphony
Orchestra of Virginia Beach. Angela is the Grand
Prize Winner of the 2023 Young Artists Competition
hosted by the Hampton Roads Philharmonic, and
will be making her debut performance with the
orchestra in March 2024 at the historic American
Theater. Besides playing the piano, Angela is also
talented in playing violin and flute, she enjoys
reading, writing and researching.

6 Symphonicity’s 2023-24 Concert Season

 Coastal Virginia’s
Ballet Company Season 23/24

Moving Forward The Nutcracker

Zeiders American The Sandler Center
Dream Theater for the Performing Arts
October 13-14, 2023 December 15-17, 2023

Diversity in Dance Cinderella

Zeiders American The Sandler Center for
Dream Theater the Performing Arts
February 9-10, 2024 March 16, 2024

FOR DETAILS: balletvirginia.org OR call 757-446-1401

Sponsors

THE CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS 7

 MEET THE
MUSICIANS

FIRST VIOLINS VIOLA BASS

Megan Van Gomple Shirley Luu Smith Joseph Eriksen
Concertmaster Principal, Margaret A. Co-Principal
Cindy Bryan Brown Honorary Rachel Keene Martin
Assistant Concertmaster Viola Chair Co-Principal
Satoko Fukasawa Linda Dyer Larry Bell
Justin Stanley Daniel Austin Rebecca Brown
Anjoli M. Ferrara Clayton Dawn Wing Alex Vogler
Christine Gundayao Julia Safron
Larry Sunderland Leslie Savvas FLUTE
Monica Appleton Emily Souza Amber Kidd
Nikki Nieves Leah Rosenberg Principal
Howard Horwitz Jasmine Graham Sue Grube
Alexandra Marlins
Andrew Dack CELLO PERCUSSION
Danielle Fagan Marguerite C. Alley Aaron Cook
Principal Dalia Berman
SECOND VIOLINS David Wing
Lynette Andrews Brian Cortes-Bofill
Principal Déz Ramos-Smiley
Alexandra Loubeau Avery Suhay
Stephen I. Fisher Fred Kovner
Irene Kohut-Ilchyshyn Kirsten Rowe
Edo Mor Kevin Fields
Cheryl Pearson Marc Powell
Kylen Griffith Charles Cook
Summer Cozzens Paige Anderson
Kelvin C. James
Elaine Spitz
Nick Raykhman

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8 Symphonicity’s 2023-24 Concert Season

 CONCERT
COLLABORATORS

Choreography by Suzanne Lownsbury and Janina Michalski,

Ballet Virginia Co-Artistic Directors.

Cast:
Lion – Logan Moon
Tortoise – Brooke Christy
Mermaids – Gabriella Miyares and Mary Schmidt
Water – Charlotte Daly and Evelyn Douglas
Cuckoo Bird – Iana Niknezhad
Birds – Cheyenne Nelson and Avery Judd
Fossils – Hayden Howard and Lorelei Werry
Swan – Bennett Dunlap
Finale – All Animals

PRE-CONCERT
COLLABORATORS

Front of House Stage Managers:

Members of the Mayor’s Youth Leaders in Action

Symphonicity’s Fermata Club: Patricia Esch

Andrea Boothe, Volunteer Coordinator Linda Ferro
Brenda Bigelow Linda Griffin
Diane Bilschak Ray Grover
John Cawley Timothy Price
Kristina Clonts Connie Purrington
Lekesha Dawson Erik Sweimler

Community Volunteers:
Nancy and Mark Curtis, Isabel Johnson, and Ocean Lakes High School students

A special thanks to the Education and Outreach Committee for helping to organize
the pre-concert activities:

Marguerite Alley, chair Juanita Felton

Lynette Andrews JoMarie Larkin
Ryan Featherer Martha McCrory

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS : Staff of the Sandler Center Production and Box Office

THE CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS 9

 PRE-CONCERT
COLLABORATORS
(CON’T)

We hope you enjoyed this year’s pre-concert activities that included the following local
businesses and nonprofit organizations:

4H of Virginia Beach
Ballet Virginia
Boy Scouts of America
Brock Center
First Colonial Facepainters
First Landing State Park
Girl Scouts of America
Lynnhaven River Now
Mayor’s Youth Leaders in Action
Music and Arts, Virginia Beach
Music in Motion
Our Sensory Farm
Rhythm of Ireland
School of Rock
SumOne Cares
Virginia Beach Animal Control
Virginia Beach Central Public Library
Virginia Beach Police
Youth Virginia Regiment

10 Symphonicity’s 2023-24 Concert Season

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SY M P H O N I C I TY’S CO N C E RT S EASO N

757.671.8611
www.symphonicity.org
SUBSCRIBE FOR SEASON TICKETS & BENEFITS ALL SEASON LONG!

Subscription tickets for the Masterworks concerts are on sale all year long. Single
tickets will be available for purchase beginning September 1.

Symphonicity offers three options for purchasing subscription tickets: the popular
Five-Concert Subscription with added benefits, the Four-Concert Subscription and
the Two-Concert Subscription. Lollipop Concert crickets are sold separately.

Five-Concert Subscribers may purchase their specific seat for the entire season,
whereas Four-Concert and Two-Concert Subscribers purchase their favorite section.

WHY SHOULD I SUBSCRIBE TO SYMPHONICITY?

The Best Prices: Save up to 40% off single ticket prices and avoid single ticket fees.
The Best Seats or Section: Subscribers are given a chance each season
to renew their seats or section before single ticket purchasers.
Complimentary Seats: Earn one complimentary ticket (for every five-concert
subscription ticket purchase). Availability is limited and seat placement is random.
Early Seating at the Handel’s Messiah Sing-Along: Five-concert subscribers can
use their subscription card for early seating for the annual sing-along.
Lollipop Concert: Subscribers have an opportunity to pick and purchase Lollipop
Concert seats before it opens to the general public.
Free Ticket Replacement: Lost or misplaced tickets are replaced for free!
The Best Support: Subscription purchases provide the best way to support
Symphonicity’s volunteer musicians who play for the love of music.
News and Invitations: Be one of the first to receive Symphonicity news
and invitations to special events.

757.671.8611 | www.symphonicity.org

THE CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS 11