Civic Symphony concludes season at Reed Whipple

Friday, May 17, 2002 | 10:17 a.m.

What: Las Vegas Civic Symphony.

When: 2 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Reed Whipple Cultural Center, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

Admission: Free.

Information: 229-6211.

Antonin Dvorak is probably best known for his work "From the New World," Symphony No. 9, written in 1893 while Dvorak was visiting the United States.

With its uncomplicated melodies, partially inspired by folk melodies and spirituals, the music is considered one of the most popular concert works.

In its final concert of the season, the Las Vegas Civic Symphony will perform selections from Dvorak's Ninth Symphony, as well as selections from Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg's "Peer Gynt Suite" and Jean Sibelius' symphonic poem "Finlandia," Sunday at Reed Whipple Cultural Center.

"We were going for more of a Scandinavian sound," Alan Lewis, conductor of the Las Vegas Civic Symphony, said. "It was a chance to do something different and address music from that area."

Though Dvorak, a Czech composer, was not from Northern Europe, his Ninth Symphony blends with the character of the pieces composed by Grieg and Sibelius, Lewis said.

Grieg, Norway's most significant composer, included nationalistic Norwegian elements in his works and is best known for his music written to Henrik Ibsen's play, "Peer Gynt."

Finnish composer Sibelius was also known for his nationalist works. The nationalist movement began in the latter half of the 19th century and emphasized the national and ethnic traits of a country and its music.

"It's thought-provoking music," Lewis said. "Pitch-wise, key-wise, emotion-wise, they all tie together."

The Las Vegas Civic Symphony features professional and student musicians from Southern Nevada. The group has performed in the Las Vegas Valley for more than 25 years.