Selections from Oklahoma- Richard Rogers, arr. Robert Russell Bennett

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About the composition:
This staple of musical theater was actually the first collaboration between the great team of Rodgers & Hammerstein. Based on Lynn Riggs’ 1931 play “Green Grow the Lilacs,” the 1943 Broadway show tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance with farm girl Laurey Williams, with several subplots throughout. The show is an early example of the so-called “book musical” (just like “Guys and Dolls”), in which the songs and dances are fully integrated into a well-made story with serious dramatic goals. There are also recognizable musical motifs, recurring themes, and even a 15-minute “dream ballet” for Laurey to reflect on her feelings for Curly and Jed. The show is categorized as a “cowboy ballet,” a genre that was becoming more popular with American composers of the time due to its ardent nationalistic flavor and the developing, populist “American sound.”
- Written by Wojciech Milewski, Music Director of the Summerville Orchestra

About the Orchestra
Serving the Lowcountry of South Carolina, the Summerville Orchestra is the epitome of community serving community. Originally founded in 2003 by a small group of musicians who wanted to play for the pure joy of it, the Summerville Orchestra has transformed into one of the largest community orchestras in the nation, programming full-scale professional repertoire while also being a “rogue traditionalist” by adding newer works, different works, and creating both a classical and non-classical music experience at each concert. Directed by Wojciech Milewski, the orchestra has blossomed into transforming the community it serves by adding five large concert performances, more than ten chamber performances, a ten-part adult educational series titled “Music Chats with Wojciech,” a podcast, live-streaming opportunities, and beginning in 2022 a new youth orchestra.