Guest conductor Farkhad Khudyev to lead powerful opening to 2023/24 concert season
WEST BARNSTABLE, MA—September 5, 2023
Cape Symphony will open its 2023/24 season with the first concert of its Masterpiece series. “Fanfare: A Celebration of Unity,” featuring magnificent works by Aaron Copland, Jean Sibelius, and Ludwig van Beethoven, will be conducted by Farkhad Khudyev on September 23 and 24, 2023.
“Fanfare” explores themes of unity and freedom, conveying the idealistic message that there is power in the freedom to come together and celebrate our common humanity.
Guest Conductor Farkhad Khudyev is known for his brilliance, energy, warmth, and “meticulous guidance, superb musicianship and extraordinarily imaginative interpretation.” Khudyev, a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and Yale University, is the Music Director of the University of Texas Symphony Orchestra and of the Orchestral Institute at the Hidden Valley Institute of the Arts in Carmel, CA.
“I immediately connected with this program on a personal level,” he said of “Fanfare.” “Every time I open the score, joy comes to me. It speaks of freedom, and a celebration of unity and connection. Embracing freedom makes us all united.”
The program includes Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” and “Lincoln Portrait,” Sibelius’s “Finlandia,” and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, “Eroica.”
Each piece is a powerful expression of the values of unity and freedom in its own context. Copland’s works were composed around the time the United States entered World War II, viewed as a fight for freedom around the globe. Sibelius wrote “Finlandia” as part of covert protests against Russian censorship. Beethoven originally dedicated “Eroica” to Napoleon Bonaparte, whom he believed championed the anti-monarchical ideals of the French Revolution (he later became enraged upon hearing that Bonaparte had declared himself Emperor).
“These extraordinary pieces were written with such tenderness, love and passion,” said Khudyev. “In the midst of tumultuous times, this music was a fresh breath of freedom… Beethoven, Sibelius, and Copland, all with such different views, and with such a diversity of sounds, all gravitated to freedom.”
“Celebrating unity is personally very meaningful to me,” he continued. “I know many people of different cultures from all over the world, playing music and living together, sharing different cultures and backgrounds. I’m so thankful to have that in my life.”
Cape Symphony is proud to present “Fanfare: A Celebration of Unity” on Saturday, September 23 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, September 24 at 3:00 PM at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center, 744 West Main Street, Hyannis. To purchase tickets, visit capesymphony.org, call the Box Office at 508-362-1111, email
Media Contact:
Susan Sundermeyer, Public Relations & Marketing Coordinator
774-470-2282
About Cape Symphony
At Cape Symphony, our mission is to Inspire Joy. We do this through outstanding entertainment and educational programs. Cape Cod’s very own professional orchestra performs at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center in Hyannis. From popular hits to magnificent classics, highlighting hidden gems and putting a new twist on standards, the emphasis is always on fun, surprises, and beautiful music. Cape Symphony’s commitment to education for all ages includes private lessons, dance, music classes, voice, and ensembles at our West Barnstable and Falmouth campuses, as well as online. Our acclaimed Cape Symphony Preschool is known for its holistic approach to learning and arts-infused curriculum. Through “Cape Symphony Presents” programming, Cape Symphony introduces a diverse array of engaging artists and touring ensembles of all genres to communities across the Cape. Visit www.capesymphony.org for more information.
