Bangor photo displays celebrate BSO premiere

BANGOR – The Bangor Symphony Orchestra and the Bangor Museum and Center for History will celebrate the heritage of Bangor with the premiere of Symphony No. 6 “The Penobscot River” and a photo display of the river through the years.

The photos, courtesy of Bangor Museum and Center for History, are on display at the Bangor Symphony Orchestra office at 51A Main St.; Bangor Daily News, 491 Main St.; Bangor Raceway historical exhibit, 50 Main St.; Bangor Museum and Center for History, 6 State St. and 21 Main St. The photos will be on display until Oct. 23 and then move to the Bangor Auditorium for the premiere of “The Penobscot River.”

The Bangor Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Music Director and Conductor Xiao-Lu Li, will present composer Thomas Oboe Lee’s Symphony no. 6 “The Penobscot River” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Bangor Auditorium. Joining forces with the BSO will be Robinson Ballet, University of Maine Singers, University of Maine Oratorio Society, Bangor High School Chorus, Maine’s All-State Musicians and Planet Pan Steel Drum Band. A special guest will be Thomas Oboe Lee.

The BSO’s newly commissioned piece will reminisce about days on the Penobscot. The choral text is adapted from works such as Henry David Thoreau’s “Ktaadin,” Fanny Hardy Eckstorm’s “The Death of Thoreau’s Guide,” John Greenleaf Whittier’s “The Loggers Boast” and concludes with Bangor’s “Centennial Hymn.”

“The Penobscot River” will be part of the BSO’s legacy to the residents of Maine.

The concert program also will include Hector Berlioz’s “Roman Carnival,” Liu’s “Dance of Yao,” and Sousa’s “The Washington Post March” and “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

The concert is free. Tickets may be reserved by calling the Bangor Symphony Orchestra box office at 942-5555, (800) 639-3221. More information is available at bangorsymphony.com.