The cello is the superstar of this weekend’s Tupelo Symphony Orchestra performance. The orchestra will be joined by cellist Allison Eldredge of Boston as Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Cellos and Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1 are presented.

“Concerto No. 1 is a very virtuosic, riveting piece of music,” Eldredge said in a phone interview with the Daily Journal. “It’s elegant, but it’s very exciting. Everyone always loves it the first time they hear it, so it’s really easy to listen to and connect with emotionally and harmonically.”

Another classical music fan favorite is Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Cellos.

“It’s always fun, two cellos together,” she said. “It has unique instrumentation and the orchestra part is equally vigorous.”

This is Eldredge’s first time performing with the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra, but she has worked with conductor Steven Byess before.

“He’s great at putting programs together; he really has a great understanding as to how to appeal to the audience in this day,” she said.

Eldredge said she works hard to connect with the audience through her performance and her instrument.

“It’s a cumbersome instrument to play, from certainly the first stages, but later on any musician, if they’re going to find success and connect with their audience, they focus on how any given story needs to be told,” she said. “We really are storytellers.”

Eldredge is also a teacher, both at Harvard University and the New England Conservatory. In addition to teaching and performing, she’s also the founder and director of a summer music program in New Jersey that helps young musicians further their careers.

sheena.barnett@journalinc.com

Concert Info

WHAT: Tupelo Symphony Orchestra featuring soloist Allison Eldredge

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Link Centre Concert Hall

COST: $25/adult in advance, $10/students

INFO: (662) 842-8433

PRE-CONCERT DINNER A DINNER WILL BE SERVED at 5 p.m. Saturday in the Link Centre’s Reception Hall. The menu includes vol au vent fruits de mer, soupe a' l'oignon, endives belges salade, steak au

poivre avec pommes frites, legumes de saison and crepes. Wine is available, and the dinner is $35/person. Call (662) 690-4011 for a reservation.