Romantic currents. Courtesy/SFCO
SFCO News:
The Santa Fe Community Orchestra will perform a free concert at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Scottish Rite Temple in Santa Fe. The orchestra will be led by conductor Chase Morrison in a program of Sibelius, Mozart, and Brahms.
Concert Program
Romantic Currents
Join us for an afternoon of contrast and beauty, as Sibelius’s intimate Suite Mignonne, Mozart’s darkly expressive piano concerto, and Brahms’s radiant serenade reveal the emotional depth, pastoral charm, and lyrical warmth of three great masters—each heard at a distinct and captivating moment in their musical journeys.
Chase Morrison Conducting
Suite Mignonne, Op. 98a
Jean Sibelius
Composed in 1921 for two flutes and string orchestra, Sibelius’s Suite mignonne reveals a gentle, pastoral side of the Finnish master—one shaped by his lifelong attunement to the natural world. In three concise movements, the suite evokes the quiet hesitations, quick flutters, and airy grace of the birds and landscapes that surrounded Sibelius at his home, Ainola. The music unfolds with delicate charm: a softly glimmering opening scene, a playful and lightly stepping polka, and a spirited finale that seems to lift into flight. Far from the grandeur of his symphonies, Suite mignonne offers a refreshing glimpse of Sibelius in miniature, where elegance, clarity, and a keen sensitivity to nature create a world as intimate as it is enchanting.
Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
featuring Julian Chen, piano
Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor is one of his most profound and emotionally charged works. Composed in 1786, the concerto stands apart for its dramatic intensity, complex textures, and somber tone. From the stormy orchestral opening to the delicate interplay between soloist and ensemble, the music explores themes of tension, reflection, and resolution. Pianist Julian Chen joins the Santa Fe Community Orchestra in interpreting this masterwork, bringing both technical finesse and emotional insight to one of Mozart’s most compelling creations.
Serenade No. 1 in D major, Op. 11
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms’ Serenade No. 1 offers a joyful glimpse into the young composer’s orchestral voice. Written in his mid-twenties, this expansive, six-movement work brims with charm, vitality, and lyrical invention. Drawing inspiration from the serenade tradition, Brahms infuses the piece with dance rhythms, graceful melodies, and warm harmonies. Though lighter in tone than his later symphonies, the Serenade displays the craftsmanship and emotional warmth that would define Brahms’ mature style.
The concert is free of charge and tickets are not required. Further information can be found at sfco.org.
The Scottish Rite Temple is located at 463 Paseo De Peralta in Santa Fe. Free parking is available behind the venue.
About the Orchestra
The Santa Fe Community Orchestra was founded in 1982 to provide an opportunity for volunteer musicians to perform free orchestra concerts for a broad range of Santa Fe and northern New Mexico audiences, to present free educational programs for audiences of all ages, to engage New Mexico musicians as soloists, to promote the composition and performance of works by New Mexico composers, and to support the musical and cultural life of Santa Fe.
Our musicians are made up of community members from Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Las Vegas, Taos, and beyond. The majority of our members spend their working lives in other professions, from lawyers to teachers to doctors to scientists and engineers. Music is a passionate pursuit for us, and we are excited to share our love for these works with the community.
Orchestra performance. Courtesy/SFCO
View of orchestra playing. Courtesy/SFCO