Love songs are on the menu for Bemidji Symphony Orchestra's Feb. 18 concert
Feb. 14—BEMIDJI — A pops concert filled with love songs will cap off Valentine's week when the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra performs at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Bemidji High School Auditorium.
"Love Songs of the Big Screen" is the theme for the concert. It will include pieces from a variety of epic movies, from the very romantic like "Casablanca" to the poignant science fiction like "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial."
"We have some new additions and some songs that were requests from board members," said Beverly Everett, the BSO's music director. "You know, every love song doesn't have to be specifically about a romantic couple. I think a lot of these movies are in their own way a lot about love even though that's not quite the most predominant theme."
The first half of the program will include the Flying Theme from "E.T.," the Prelude and Lara's Theme from "Dr. Zhivago," Unchained Melody from the 1955 film "Unchained" and the more recent "Ghost," As Time Goes By from "Casablanca," Moon River from "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and an abridged version of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture.
Following intermission, the orchestra will perform some lighter music from "Beauty and the Beast," Edelweiss from "The Sound of Music," the theme from "Rocky," the Raiders March from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and a piece from "The Lion King."
John Darling, a retired music professor at Bismarck State College in North Dakota, arranged the score for Edelweiss and the "Rocky" theme.
"Edelweiss is my favorite song from one of my favorite movies," Everett said. "I talked to John three years ago about doing an arrangement of it, and he got it done."
Everett says the concert offers something for all ages.
"We're always trying to get the word out that what we do is accessible, physically and intellectually, to everyone," she said. "A concert like this is extremely accessible if people want to bring their children, or if people have never been to an orchestra concert before. They're going to hear something that will be familiar to them. The music is very lively and fun. I think it just shows our efforts to show that what we do in Bemidji is really for everyone."
Tickets may be purchased online at
at both Lueken's Village Foods locations or at the door. They are priced at $27 for adults, $22 for seniors 62 and over, and $10 for college students with ID. Students in grades K-12 will be admitted free of charge.
Two other packages are available. The BSO is partnering with Table for 7 on a concert and romantic meal package. It includes a concert ticket and a meal at 1 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. for $65. Season ticket holders may enjoy the meal for $45.
The orchestra also is partnering with the Headwaters Science Center for a package that includes admission to the center's Elevated Epicurean Experience on Saturday, Feb. 17, and a ticket to the concert.
Details and tickets for both packages are available online at
