After a short break, Chamber Orchestra took the stage. Despite having only a minute to warm up on stage, Chamber Orchestra immediately impressed all with strong, recognizable notes. The incorporation of flutes and keyboards, as well as the guitar-like strumming of the string instruments, made the orchestra’s opening piece, “Fantasia on Greensleeves“ by Ralph Vaughan Williams interesting to watch and listen to. Many of the players moved along with their instrument or had their eyes closed, concentrating solely on the music. The next song, a contemporary piece called “Sea Cliffs” by Nicolas Flagello, showcased Chamber Orchestra’s control over their instruments. The mournful, high-pitched tune sounded lovely and was not shrill at all. In the final song, “Serenade in E” by Antonin Dvorak, the notes were clearly defined, dynamics were firmly under control, and the songs were charged with energy and excitement. The entire show was simply full of great spontaneity and charm.
The quality of the music, combined with the fact the performance was completely free, made it extremely worthwhile to watch. Though it started off rocky, the concert ultimately left a powerful impression on the audience with its gorgeous, heart-twisting music. In the end, no one paid much attention to the little errors. The Orchestra and audience congratulated each other for playing a great show—and that it was.
Orchestra’s next concerts will be held from Jan. 26 to 28