Our Librarian, Dr. Manly Romero, wrote a review of last year's Orpheus Institute performance. With our concert quickly approaching, I thought it would be nice to share! Thank you Manly for your review!
CONCERT REVIEW – Chamber Sinfonia / Orpheus Institute @ MSM November 6, 2008
Last night, Chamber Sinfonia, in its annual Orpheus Institute event sans maestro, performed admirably, if perhaps a bit sleepily, a long program of benchmark works: Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and Rimsky-Korsakov’s famously exotic Capriccio Espagnole, balanced by Brahm’s Serenade No. 1 in D Major.
The performance was preceded by a run-out concert to Westchester County’s Mamaroneck High School last Friday. As Michael Roud, a member of the original Orpheus orchestra related, “The run-out concert is the key. That’s what we do in Orpheus. A week before the advertised performance, we learn where we are and where we need to go.” Last night, Mr. Roud was very pleased. “This is the best year yet,” he raved. “It just keeps getting better and better.” Indeed, the concert was very well played, and the orchestra held together even without a leader on the podium.
The carefully colored and shaped accompaniments sang conclusively of a group-minded artistic interpretation, yet several individuals distinguished themselves as well. Kudos to Alexandros Sakarellos, who imaginatively realized the many solo violin passages in Capriccio Espagnole. Flutist Amanda Sparfeld, after a week with the NY Phil, brought her superb sound back to Borden and MSM in Egmont. Sung Jun Kim and Sarah Sommer, clarinets, executed their many notey passages dependably throughout the evening.
One audience member’s only reservation was this: not all the parts can sing at full voice all the time. In orchestral performance, sotto voce is as important as cantabile. This week in particular, we are reminded that in a democracy, leaders are elected; a strong will moves to the foreground, wanes, is replaced by a new idea. In this, our most democratic of orchestras, such a pattern more fully developed might be an improvement.
Still, Dr. Romero says the operation was… a success! Four stars to chamber sinfonia for a committed performance! And to hold us over until the next house-call, some Orchestral Rx for the rest of us: Even if you’re playing with a conductor, nothing’s stopping you from checking out the full score and reaping the benefits!
Last night, Chamber Sinfonia, in its annual Orpheus Institute event sans maestro, performed admirably, if perhaps a bit sleepily, a long program of benchmark works: Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and Rimsky-Korsakov’s famously exotic Capriccio Espagnole, balanced by Brahm’s Serenade No. 1 in D Major.
The performance was preceded by a run-out concert to Westchester County’s Mamaroneck High School last Friday. As Michael Roud, a member of the original Orpheus orchestra related, “The run-out concert is the key. That’s what we do in Orpheus. A week before the advertised performance, we learn where we are and where we need to go.” Last night, Mr. Roud was very pleased. “This is the best year yet,” he raved. “It just keeps getting better and better.” Indeed, the concert was very well played, and the orchestra held together even without a leader on the podium.
The carefully colored and shaped accompaniments sang conclusively of a group-minded artistic interpretation, yet several individuals distinguished themselves as well. Kudos to Alexandros Sakarellos, who imaginatively realized the many solo violin passages in Capriccio Espagnole. Flutist Amanda Sparfeld, after a week with the NY Phil, brought her superb sound back to Borden and MSM in Egmont. Sung Jun Kim and Sarah Sommer, clarinets, executed their many notey passages dependably throughout the evening.
One audience member’s only reservation was this: not all the parts can sing at full voice all the time. In orchestral performance, sotto voce is as important as cantabile. This week in particular, we are reminded that in a democracy, leaders are elected; a strong will moves to the foreground, wanes, is replaced by a new idea. In this, our most democratic of orchestras, such a pattern more fully developed might be an improvement.
Still, Dr. Romero says the operation was… a success! Four stars to chamber sinfonia for a committed performance! And to hold us over until the next house-call, some Orchestral Rx for the rest of us: Even if you’re playing with a conductor, nothing’s stopping you from checking out the full score and reaping the benefits!
