Dr. Jon Magnussen, head of UH West Oʻahuʻs music program, composed the oboe concerto, “Nā Kau ʻElua | The Two Seasons.”
Experience a beautiful connection of classical music and Hawaiʻi’s rich natural history at Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestraʻs “Two Seasons,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday at Blaisdell Concert Hall.
The concert, part of the Halekulani Masterworks Season, features principal oboist J. Scott Janusch performing “Nā Kau ʻElua | The Two Seasons,” composed by Dr. Jon Magnussen, University of Hawai’i–West Oʻahu associate professor of music and head of its music program. Janusch will perform the concerto on a rare instrument – the worldʻs first and only oboe made of native Hawaiian kauila wood.
Dr. Magnussen was commissioned to compose “Nā Kau ʻElua | The Two Seasons” for Janusch and the Hawaiian Oboe Legacy Project, which involved the crafting of an oboe out of kauila wood from Kauaʻi and thought to be 200- to 300-years old.
Japanese conductor Keitaro Harada makes his HSO debut in this program, which also includes Prokofievʻs “Symphony No.1 (Classical Symphony)” and Schubertʻs “Symphony No. 5.”
Tickets are $36, $52, $77 and $95, and may be purchased at hawaiisymphonyorchestra.org. Students may sign up for free tickets (limited amount available), thanks to the John Young Foundation.