Buffalo State Night at BPO for Production of 'Romeo and Juliet'

The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra has designated Thursday, October 10, as “Buffalo State Night at the BPO” for its Know the Score performance of Romeo and Juliet. Buffalo State students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend the 7:00 p.m. concert conducted by Paul Ferington, who also serves as a lecturer in Buffalo State’s Music Department and director of the Buffalo State Philharmonia.

The concert features excerpts from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, based on the Shakespeare play, and from Sergei Prokofiev’s famous ballet Romeo and Juliet. The concert also includes insights on how composers communicate the important emotions of conflict, love, and despair found in Shakespeare’s masterpiece. Examples from the orchestra score will be projected on the screen above the stage, as well as live video of the Philharmonic musicians.

Interspersed between musical selections of Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, and Bernstein, actors from Shakespeare in Delaware Park will portray some of the characters and recite various scenes.

“We are thrilled about having our first Buffalo State night at the BPO,” Ferington said. “The Buffalo State Music Department has had a long history of partnering with our Philharmonic colleagues as adjunct faculty and guest performers, and my connection with both great institutions made this concert a natural to celebrate with our college family.”

At 8:30 p.m., following the performance, concert-goers have the opportunity to meet and mingle with the musicians in a reception with desserts from Romeo and Juliet’s Bakery and Café. A cash bar will be available to patrons age 21 and older.

Open seating tickets for the performance and post-concert reception are $25. For tickets, call (716) 885-5000 or go to www.bpo.org.