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 [ Thursday, April 22, 2004 ] 'Flute Fantasy' echoes through valley
By David Tatasciore
Collegian Staff Writer
For college students, when thinking of the flute, the first thing that comes to mind might be Jethro Tull. But the skills of frontman Ian Anderson aside, this Friday the Nittany Valley Symphony (NVS) will exhibit the classical beauty of the instrument with its Flute Fantasy concert, beginning at 8 p.m. at Eisenhower Auditorium. NVS is a community orchestra that was originally founded in 1967 for the purpose of performing at that year's Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. | ||||
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Since then, it has grown to the size of roughly 80 players and performs six concerts a year from fall to spring. The final concert of this season, Flute Fantasy features the Overture to the Barber of Seville, which many people may recognize from Bugs Bunny Looney Tunes episodes. But the star of the show is no cartoon rabbit. That honor is reserved for Diane Gold Toulson, the principal flutist for NVS and an interim professor of the instrument for Penn State's music department. Toulson also teaches at Bucknell University and the Music Academy, 519 W. College Ave., and according to a press release from the NVS, is "renowned for her enthusiasm, technique and virtuosity." She will be stepping forward as a soloist to perform the piece, "Fantasia para un gentilhombre," which was written by the blind Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo in 1984. Toulson said Rodrigo was inspired to create the piece by classical guitarist Andres Segovia; accordingly, it was written with the intent of being performed on guitar. It was later arranged by composer James Galway for flute and orchestra, which is the form in which it will be presented at Flute Fantasy. Toulson described the selection as being full of color and Spanish history, with her flute taking on the character of a canary. "It's like a trip to Spain, a musical travelogue," she said. So even if you're thick as a brick when it comes to this sort of thing, Toulson urged students to come out and give the concert a chance. She said the music is toe-tapping, something that could really reach people who are not usually into classical music. Those who attend can even take advantage of a two-for-one deal. Karen Struble, NVS executive director, said if people arrive early, they'd have the chance to hear Musicians in the Making as a warm-up. The program provides opportunities for young musicians and allows them to showcase their talents for the public. "It's like a concert before the concert," Struble said. And as an added bonus for Penn Staters, she said there is a discounted student ticket price: just $7.50. 
PHOTO: Chad Woolbert
The Nittany Valley Symphony practices for a performance in February.
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What: Nittany Valley Symphony's 'Flute Fantasy'