The Lone Star Youth Orchestra will continue its 26^th season on March 26^th with a concert titled “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity”.  The hour-long program features Brian Balmages’ Ice Sculptures, Jacques Offenbach’s Overture from Orpheus in the Underworld, Johann Strauss, Sr.’s Radetzky March, the traditional Irish folk song Carrickfergus, Johannes Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80, Gustav Holst’s The Planets, Op. 32: IV. Jupiter, Op. 228, and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Finale from 5^th Symphony.

Ice Sculptures is a vibrant and dynamic composition that evokes the delicate beauty and intricate design of ice art.  The piece features bright, shimmering melodies and sharp, crystalline rhythms, mimicking the cold elegance of ice, while also incorporating moments of warmth and fluidity to reflect the artistry involved.  For this LSYO performance, the piano part will instead feature harp.

From the opera bouffe Orpheus in the Underworld, this famed overture begins with a bristling fanfare followed by a tender love song and then an infernal passage as Orpheus journeys to Hades to bring back Eurydice.  The Finale, after an elaborate waltz, is the ever-popular “can-can.”  The instantly recognizable music of this overture is well known throughout the world. 

The Radetzky March is one of the most famous marches in the classical repertoire.  With its familiar recurring theme and crowd-pleasing rhythms, this lively yet charming piece has an infectious energy and celebratory spirit.

Carrickfergus is a poignant Irish folk song of heartfelt longing and the yearning for home. 

The Academic Festival Overture is a spirited and vibrant celebration of academic life.  Originally written as a musical thank-you to the University of Breslau for awarding him an honorary doctorate, this piece exudes a joyful and festive essence and showcases Brahms’ masterful use of contrasting themes, particularly the incorporation of several popular German student songs, which are woven into the fabric of the overture. 

Jupiter is one of the most celebrated movements from Holst’s epic suite, The Planets.  Known for its grandeur and sweeping melodies, this piece features soaring brass fanfares, lush strings, and bold, energetic rhythms, capturing the cosmic energy and expansive nature of the planet Jupiter. 

The Finale from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 is the iconic conclusion to this monumental work.  Known for its triumphant and energetic theme, this piece balances the thunderous, bold brass and strings with moments of delicate interplay, maintaining the intensity of the symphony’s well-known “da-da-da-dum” motif.  Capturing the essence of victory and resolution, Beethoven’s stirring motifs build to an exhilarating dramatic climax.

Single tickets are available by visiting IrvingArtsCenter.com, by calling (972) 252-2787, or by purchase at the door.  Ticket prices are $7.50 per student and $14.50 for adults. 

“Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity” will take place on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Irving Arts Center’s Carpenter Hall.  The Arts Center address is 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, TX  75062.  Please be aware of road construction along MacArthur Blvd. and allow for extra travel time.