The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra travels through northern and eastern Europe in “Travel Postcards: Pictures at an Exhibition.” The performance is on May 11, 7:30 pm, at Clements High School.  

The concert begins with Rimsky-Korsakov's Fantasia on Serbian Themes, Op. 6, a delightful work focusing on Serbian melodies created by nationalist composer Mily Balakirev. Rimsky-Korsakov wrote the work quickly, and it was reviewed by Tchaikovsky in 1868.  

The travel continues with Borodin’s charming and atmospheric “In the Steppes of Central Asia.” Written in 1880, this musical tableau depicts Central Asian residents caravaning across the desert under the protection of Russian troops. The Russian and the Asian themes intermingle, giving way to the Russian theme as the melodies depart.  

Also on the concert are the rarely heard but wonderful Swedish Dances by Max Bruch. There are versions for violin and piano (first version), piano four-hands, military band, and full orchestra. The symphonic orchestra versions are full of life and vivacity.  

The concert's showstopper is Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. Originally a piano suite in 10 movements, it was written in 1874. It depicts a musical tour of an exhibition of works by architect and painter Viktor Hartmann, which was put on at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg following the artist’s sudden death in the previous year. Each movement of the suite is based on an individual work, some of which are lost.  Ravel’s 1922 orchestration and arrangement is the most widely known adaptation and the one that the orchestra will be performing. Vivid portraits of each artwork make the piece come to life in the concert hall. Various solos of unique instruments, such as the alto saxophone and the Euphonium, charm the ear with sounds not heard in the symphonic concert hall.