“The ‘Concerto Marathon’ will be my last official concert at Lehigh,” says Paul Salerni, National Endowment in the Humanities Distinguished Chair in the Humanities, Chair and Professor of Music, Lehigh University Philharmonic Director.

Lehigh University Philharmonic presents “Concerto Marathon,” 7:30 p.m. April 26, 27, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem.

The concert opens with Jean-Baptiste Accolay’s “Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor.” Composed in 1863, this very attractive and melodic work features violin soloist Josh Lentz accompanied by string orchestra.

Richard Strauss’ early work, “Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, Op.11,” follows with soloist Ryder Henry’s performance of the very virtuosic and lively third movement.

Cello soloist Andrew McKenna then takes the stage in a performance of the first movement of Camille Saent-Saens’ “Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 119,” composed in 1872.

The concert’s first half concludes with the full Philharmonic performance of Salerni’s composition “Upstream/About Two Miles.” The work was written to celebrate the lives of his son Miles Salerni and the legendary Miles Davis.

After intermission, the concert concludes with Maurice Ravel’s 1922 orchestration of Modest Mussorgsky’s 1874 “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

Consisting of 10 movements, each movement depicts in music Mussorgsky’s interpretation of an exhibit of watercolors and drawings by his friend Victor Hartman.

Says Salerni, “For my final Lehigh concert, I wanted to end with something monumental. The work shows off all sections of the orchestra, particularly my brass players. It’s the perfect piece before I retire.”

Images of the artwork that inspired each movement will be projected on a screen. Professor Linda Ganus Albulescu, Visual Communications, Orchestra Manager, put together the artwork.

Paul Salerni, who received a Ph.D. in composition from Harvard University, joined the music faculty at Lehigh University in 1979. His commissioned orchestral and chamber works have been performed by the Allentown Symphony Orchestra and the former Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra in the United States, Canada, Europe and China.

At Lehigh, Paul Salerni, who received the Stabler Award for excellence in teaching, conducted the Wind Ensemble, University Philharmonic, was founder and director of the Lehigh University Modern Ensemble and led students on study abroad programs in Prague, Belgium and Italy.

“I am so proud of my very bright and talented students, as people, as artists and teachers. I hope a lot of people come out to attend and enjoy this concert,” says Salerni.

Lehigh University Philharmonic “Concerto Marathon,” 7:30 p.m. April 26, 27, Zoellner Arts Center, 420 E. Packer Avenue, Bethlehem; Tickets: box office; 610-758-2787 ext. 0; https://zoellner.cas.lehigh.edu/

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnon-line.com