Viva la Música and Berlioz Fantastique

Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique anchors a thrilling program that celebrates bold imagination and vibrant cultural expression. From Copland’s El Salón México and Revueltas’ La Noche de los Mayas with its driving rhythms, to Moncayo’s Huapango and its stirring melodies, this concert becomes an immersive performance celebrating the spirit of Latin America. Westwater Arts brilliantly marries panoramic photography with live classical performances, creating a breathtaking fusion of visual and musical artistry.

Program

SILVESTRE REVUELTAS – La Noche de los Mayas with Pre-Columbia visual concerto* 

I. Mvt. 1 (I. Lento molto sostenuto) 

AARON COPLAND – El Salόn México with Mágico visual concerto* 

JOSÉ PABLO MONCAYO – Huapango with Mágico visual concerto* 

— Intermission — 

HECTOR BERLIOZ – Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14 

I. Daydreams (Largo) – Passions (Allegro agitato
e appassionato assai)  

II. A Ball (Valse. Allegro non troppo) 

III. In the Fields (Adagio) 

IV. March to the Scaffold (Allegretto non troppo) 

V. Sabbath Night Dream (Larghetto – Allegro –
Dies irae – Sabbath Round (Un peu retenu) –
Dies irae and Sabbath Round together) 

About Westwater Arts

For over 50 years, Westwater Arts has redefined how audiences experience orchestral concerts through its pioneering art form, symphonic photochoreography. What began in 1973 with founder James Westwater and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra has grown into an internationally recognized fusion of music and imagery, performed with more than 200 orchestras worldwide. Early collaborations brought photochoreography to major stages, including the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra, and James went on to create iconic works such as Reflections of the Spirit and The Eternal Struggle.

In 2009, Nicholas Bardonnay joined the company, bringing fresh creativity and technological innovation. Before James’s retirement in 2014, the two collaborated on major commissions, including Grand Canyon Country and Czech Journeys. Since then, Nicholas has expanded the repertoire and global reach of Westwater Arts, drawing inspiration from travels across Iceland, Mexico, U.S. National Parks, and international archives.

With more than a million audience members reached, Westwater Arts continues to blend tradition with innovation, creating immersive symphonic experiences that captivate and inspire.

About Nicholas Bardonnay

Nicholas Bardonnay is a photographer, multimedia artist, and the Creative Director & CEO of Westwater Arts. Since joining the company in 2009, he has created and performed more than a dozen photochoreography pieces with over 120 concerts worldwide, from the U.S. to Europe and Asia.

His first work, Pacifica, paired atmospheric images of the Pacific Northwest with music by composers including Mahler and Debussy. Later projects such as Rodeo! and Sagaland were inspired by the landscapes of Arizona and Iceland, while National Park Suite celebrated America’s national treasures with the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap. His archival-based works, No Man’s Land and Citizen Soldier, honored the World Wars with music by Copland, Vaughan Williams, and Shostakovich.

Nicholas has also led major commissions, including Grand Canyon Country for the Tucson and Phoenix symphonies, a 50th anniversary tribute for the Britt Music Festival, and Czech Journeys for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Toronto Symphony Orchestra. His photography has been exhibited internationally, and his more recent concert works, Mágico, Pre~Columbia, and Visions, continue to expand the reach of this unique art form.

Meet the Musicians Here!