Frostburg State University Cultural Events Series Welcomes Maryland Symphony Orchestra “Shakespeare in Symphony” Nov. 13

Nov 2, 2026 8:00 AM

mso The Frostburg State University Cultural Events Series will welcome the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Elizabeth Schulze, for “Shakespeare in Symphony” on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in FSU's Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. The engagement is supported by the Community Trust Foundation’s Iris and Peter Halmos Community Fund and the Invest in Allegany County Fund; and by the FSU Foundation, Inc.

This captivating program explores the enduring power of William Shakespeare’s storytelling through four celebrated orchestral works inspired by his plays. Selections include Felix Mendelssohn’s Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Overture to “Hamlet,” William Walton’s Suite from “Henry V” and Sergei Prokofiev’s Suite from “Romeo and Juliet.” Together, these works showcase the enduring influence of Shakespeare on generations of composers and the remarkable ability of orchestral music to bring literary characters and stories vividly to life.

Mendelssohn’s overture evokes Shakespeare’s magical world with whimsy, grace and fairy-like energy. As BBC writer Andrew Dickson observed, the composer captures the spirit of the play without a single spoken word, even incorporating a playful musical reference to Bottom’s transformation into a donkey. Tchaikovsky’s overture offers a powerful musical portrait of the Prince of Denmark, conveying the drama, inner conflict and tragedy at the heart of “Hamlet.” Drawn from William Walton’s celebrated score for Laurence Olivier’s landmark film adaptation, the suite from “Henry V” blends nobility, pageantry and emotional depth and remains one of the great achievements of cinematic music. Prokofiev’s suite from “Romeo and Juliet” captures both the exhilaration and heartbreak of Shakespeare’s most famous love story through sweeping melodies, lyrical beauty and vivid orchestration.

Prior to the concert, at 6:30 p.m., MSO Music Director Schulze will discuss the selections that will be performed and reveal insight on how each composer deftly transforms Shakespeare’s words into music.

Since its founding in 1982, the Maryland Symphony Orchestra has grown into one of the region’s premier cultural institutions. Under the leadership of Music Director Elizabeth Schulze, the orchestra has earned a reputation for artistic excellence and dynamic programming, serving audiences throughout Maryland and beyond.

Ticket pricing and fee information can be found at tickets.frostburg.edu. Discounts are available for youth, military and FSU employees; all tickets are free for FSU students. The University Box Office, located in FSU's Lane University Center, is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please visit the CES webpage at ces.frostburg.edu or contact the box office at 1-866-849-9237 or 301-687-3137.

Community donors to the MSO engagement include Anonymous; Carl Belt, Jr. & Jane A. Belt; Betsey Hurwitz-Schwab & Douglas S. Schwab; Janice Keene; Dr. Gregory P. Latta and Teddy A. Latta '95; MaryJo A. Price '01; Victor S. Rezendes & John E. Minnich; and Nicholas Scarpelli, II '84 & Tama Scarpelli. CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.