Philharmonic's season finale rockets to 'the Planets'

PLYMOUTH, Mich. - April 21, 2025 - PRLog -- Journey through the solar system in May as the Michigan Philharmonic performs Gustav Holst's thrilling "The Planets" during the grand finale of the regional orchestra's season.

This concert will wrap up the Phil's 79^th season and is planned for Saturday, May 3 at the Salem High School auditorium in Canton. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., the performance features three pieces: Holst's "The Planets, Op. 32" as well as two pieces created by a pair of modern award-winning women composers.

Led by longtime conductor and music director Nan Washburn, the Plymouth-based symphony features a core of professional musicians from throughout the metro Detroit area. This year they have already performed seven concerts, mixing pops sounds with classical masterpieces and news compositions by various composers including one by a Grammy-nominated.

Holst's composition was written in 1917 and is considered a music masterpiece. It features sections for many of the solar system's most enigmatic celestial bodies. The other pieces are "Into the Sky" (2022) by Dinah Bianchi and "Remember" (2022) by Cara Haxo. These compositions will be highlighted by the vocal styles of soprano singer Rhea Olivacce.

Bianchi is an award-winning Michigan composer who seeks to create vibrantly exciting music that is sublime, beautiful and with the communicative power that drives the creative spirit of all artists. A native of Massachusetts, Haxo's musical style juxtaposes delicate, sparkly textures with the gritty and the grotesque. Her piece, "Remember," is based on Poet Laureate Joy Harjo's poem of the same name.

The Plymouth Centennial Education Park Madrigal Singers will also perform during the concert.

Tickets are available at michiganphil.org (https://www.michiganphil.org/) or by calling (734) 451-2112. All of the Philharmonic's concerts are subject to time and date changes.