Inspired by our connection to the universe and the influence of space themes and pop culture through the decades, the grand compositions to be played by Artosphere Festival Orchestra celebrate the moon in a night not to be missed.

Each selection connects to the greater theme of space for the 10th anniversary of Artosphere, and the finale event includes world-renowned musicians from across our blue planet.

Music to Infinity and Beyond

Program:

Johann Strauss II | The Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314
Claudio Monteverdi | Toccata from L’Orfeo
Johann Sebastian Bach | Passacaglia & Fugue in C minor, BWV 582
Transcribed for orchestra by Ottorino Respighi
Georg Friedrich Händel | Overture to Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 35
Claude Debussy | Clair de lune
Transcribed for orchestra by André Caplet
Richard Strauss | Also Sprach Zarathustra Op. 30 (excerpt)
Giacomo Puccini | Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut
John Williams | Star Wars Main Theme

Space-influenced compositions

The Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314

Originally performed in February 1867 at a concert of the Wiener Männergesangsverein (Vienna Men's Choral Association), it has been one of the most consistently popular pieces of music in the classical repertoire. The specifically Viennese sentiment associated with Strauss's melody has made it an unofficial Austrian national anthem.

The piece was prominently used in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. After a leap from humanity's prehistoric past to its spacefaring future, the first two-thirds of The Blue Danube are heard as a space plane approaches and docks with a space station; it concludes while another spacecraft travels from the station to the Moon. The piece is then reprised over the film's closing credits.

Passacaglia & Fugue in C minor, BWV 582

Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (BWV 582) is an organ piece by Johann Sebastian Bach. Presumably composed early in Bach's career, it is one of his most important and well-known works, and an important influence on 19th and 20th Century passacaglias: Robert Schumann described the variations of the passacaglia as "intertwined so ingeniously that one can never cease to be amazed." The composition was used by George Lucas in his 1968 USC student film, Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB.

Clair de lune

Clair de Lune is French for "light of the moon.” The third and most famous movement of Suite bergamasque is "Clair de lune", in D♭ major. It is marked andante très expressif (at an easy walking pace and very expressive), and to be played mostly pianissimo (very softly). It is not to be confused with the two settings of the poem made by Debussy for voice and piano accompaniment.

Also Sprach Zarathustra Op. 30

Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 is a tone poem by Richard Strauss, composed in 1896 and inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical novel of the same name. The composer conducted its first performance on Nov. 27, 1896 in Frankfurt. A typical performance lasts half an hour.

The initial fanfare – titled "Sunrise" in the composer's program notes – became well-known after its use in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Star Wars Main Theme

Star Wars is a 1977 instrumental hit single composed and conducted by John Williams. It is the main musical theme of the movie Star Wars. It was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. The track became a hit in the United States (#10) and Canada (#13) during the fall of that year. The composition draws influence from Erich Wolfgang Korngold's score for the 1942 film Kings Row.