Symphony commemorates 1812

The Richmond Symphony will mark the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 with a special concert at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Carpenter Theatre of Richmond CenterStage, Sixth and Grace streets.

The program, conducted by Steven Smith, coincides with the opening day of the 2012 session of the Virginia General Assembly. The orchestra will play works written around or about 1812, including Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” which musically chronicles Napoleon’s invasion and retreat from Russia in the same year as the war between the United States and Great Britain.

Admission to the hour-long concert is free, but tickets are required. They may be ordered by calling the symphony’s patron services desk at (804) 788-1212 or e-mailing patronservices@richmondsymphony.com

WCVE (88.9 FM) and its affiliates will broadcast the concert shortly after 8 p.m. Jan. 11, following Gov. Bob McDonnell’s State of the Commonwealth address to the General Assembly.