Universidad de Santiago orchestra takes part in tribute to 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth

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  • Our orchestra performed under the direction of the renowned conductor Bill Barclay in the “Romeo and Juliet” concerts given at the Croata Park, in Antofagasta on November 15t, and at the Inés de Suárez Park, in Providencia, Santiago, on November 16th.
  • Specially invited by the Teatro a Mil Foundation, Universidad de Santiago Classical Orchestra was in charge of performing under the leadership of the renowned American-born conductor Bill Barclay during his presentations in Chile, in the context of the celebration of the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth. The activity was organized by this Foundation.
  • The commemorative program included two performances of the “Romeo and Juliet” concert: one at the Croata Park, in Antofagasta, on November 15th and the second at the Inés de Suárez Park, in Providencia, Santiago, on November 16th, at 18:00 o’clock.

 




“Romeo and Juliet” concert was directed by Bill Barclay, composer and conductor, who is considered as an expert in the English writer’s work. He is the first American to join the staff of the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, in London, and has composed for them for four seasons.

Barclay has written several musical pieces and solo works, like Muse on Fire: Shakespeare and the Music of the Spheres, which has been performed at universities and theatres in the United States and other countries. In the past five years he has held artist residencies as conductor and composer at the Columbia University, University of Connecticut, Purdue University, Brandeis University, University of Wisconsin and the University of Virginia. He has been a guest lecturer at Harvard University too.

The concert- that included pieces written by the Russian musicians Piotr Tchaikovsky y Serguei Prokofiev- was opened by the piece composed in 1869 by Tchaikovsky, based on the Romeo and Juliet tragedy. This Russian composer named his work just like Shakespeare’s play and styled it an “Overture-Fantasy”. He was 28 years old when he composed it, but he rewrote it in 1880. 

The program was closed by the piece composed in 1935 by Serguei Prokofiev for the Romeo and Juliet ballet, which suites were popular in Russia and the United States. In Chile, the seven movements of the Suite Nº2 were performed.

Translated by Marcela Contreras

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