4 minute read
Symphony strikes the right chords
Andre Fuller / Roundup
Throughout the concert there was an excitement, yet calmness that went through everyone in the building as the anticipation for the new concert season began.
Playing Saturday at the Pierce College Performing Arts Building, the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra opened its doors for the first of many times. With long lines waiting outside the building, there was a sense of urgency as people walked in.
The 2009-10 concert season for the San Fernando Valley Orchestra Symphony opened with a first place award (at a statewide competition) given to Maestro James Domine for the piano piece, “Bacchanal from Ancient Scenes Suite,” performed by pianist Tiffany Lu.
From the very beginning, Domine made the audience feel at home with his witty and well-timed jokes.
Carefully chosen for the opening concert, Domine delightfully put together well-deserving musicians who were not only ready for the stage, but have succeeded beyond their years.
Isabel Smith, a junior at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, played the “Conus Violin Concerto.” Receiving the Maestro Award for “top instrumental performance” at the San Francisco Music Festival in 2007, Smith is one of the best and young violinists in California.
With every loud clap given, you could hear whistling in the background as standing ovations were being given out to seemingly every musician who performed. The musicians did a wonderful job of making their presence known.
None did more so than Isabel Smith. With every brush against the strings, you could feel the excitement coming from the violin of Smith. Very calm and collective, Smith’s performance gave a sense of maturity and patience.
Tiffany Kang, 11, played the third movement of Kabalevsky’s “Violin Concerto.” Learning how to play the violin at the age of six, Kang was blessed from the very beginning. Whether it was playing for the University of California at Irvine radio station or performing “Summer” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at Irvine City Hall, Kang’s musical talents were shown at the orchestra’s opening act.
In a fast-paced piece, Kang found her place in the performance early and often. Playing among musicians who very well could be her parents and grandparents, Kang performed admirably on stage.
While on stage, everyone who had an instrument had a great poise about themselves. The control of the performers gave a sense of maturity. It was as if this was not their first concert performance of the 2009 season.
“Portraits of Rochelle: I Theme,” “II
The Four Children,” “III Eschet Chayil (A Woman of Valor)” and “IV Finale” played soon after the Kang performance. With a sense of love for each musical note played, the “Portraits of Rochelle” was played very passionately. As the piece went through, it felt like a movie was being played. From the beginning to the end, there was a sense of happiness and sadness that was moving to everyone who heard the piece performed. For the finale of the event, the orchestra played Symphony #1 in D major: I Andante mesto: più Allegro, II Romance; Andante grazioso, III Menuetto, and IV
Finale; Allegro molto.
The last piece was wonderfully played. Much like “Portraits of Rochelle,” “Symphony #1 in D major” was portrayed as a piece with its ups and downs. However, toward the end, there was this uplifting and satisfying feeling that left the audience wanting more.
Led by a highly regarded composer, conductor, guitarist, novelist, poet and playwright, Domine and the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra played beautifully without any such “hiccups” in the performance. Although for Maestro and his reputation this is not surprising, it is still refreshing to hear good music played.
