Category: 11/16 – Metro Chamber Orchestra (Page 1 of 2)

Tonight, I went to Lincoln Center to see The Baroque Collection: The Four Seasons. Before going to see the show, I had background experience of the Baroque era since Dr. Kahan had taught us about Baroque styled opera. This was my second time going to Lincoln Center, and just like the first, it didn’t disappoint. The show was based around a very famous work of Vivaldi’s called The Four Seasons. Vivaldi’s piece was performed by violinists, who I thought were almost superhuman on how fast they can play, and was my favorite piece of the whole concert. The way Vivaldi wrote this piece was brilliant on how he actually split up the four seasons of Winter, Spring, Autumn, and Summer and represented each music with different styles of music. When the performers played the Winter piece for example, the high pitched notes evoked a sensation of the piercing cold weather that Winter is responsible for. I was surprised that I had recognized part of the Winter piece because I thought that this was my first time experiencing Vivaldi’s music. My favorite ‘season’ if I may call it, was Summer, because it truly reminded me of Summer. The music was relaxed at times, and then all of a sudden it turned very fast which made me excited, all emotions that Summer gives me. Although the music is so well-written, it wouldn’t have sounded as good without the top of the line violinists that performed each season.

Other pieces featured the works of Telemann, Albinoni, and Geminiani. These pieces were also very entertaining and did a great job of preparing my ears for Vivaldi. Lets face it, the main part of the show was The Four Seasons and it was. But, the other pieces that featured instruments other than stringed instruments, such as trumpets, were also very pleasing in that they were very relaxing to listen to. I specifically enjoyed the Telemann piece because of it upbeat style. If I had to guess, I would say that piece was written for a royal ceremony of some sort in that time.

The Baroque styled pieces expressed a sense of enlightenment to me and showed their true renaissance colors through the fast paced, good feeling, and revolutionary style of music at the time. As I said, the Lincoln Center is 2 for 2 for me, and has shown me the culture of art in New York City.

-Tyler Crespi

Orchestra music is something I hardly consider myself to be an expert on. Despite this, I have had a certain beginner background in the art of orchestra music. I was a part of one in middle school and worked with some in high school as well. Though I do not know the ins and outs of this type of music, I was glad I had that background that allowed me to pick out certain parts of concert that I might not have noticed.

After sitting down and admiring the grand beauty of the church, the music started. The first act was surrounded upon dual clarinets. While not my favorite act of the night, the skill it takes to play these instruments came through strongly. I always think with wind instruments that it must be very difficult to play while constantly running out of breath. At times in the performance the clarinet sounds became rapid and highly technical. Along with this though, came an array of high notes that, while difficult, were not particularly appealing to my ear. There was a certain moment in the performance where one of the players messed up, resulting in a glare from the accompanying player. Five minutes later, as if on cue, the same thing happened to the player who glared. Karma I guess. It was slightly comical, although I did feel bad. Being a fellow performer, I know how horrible it feels to mess up in the middle of a performance. The next featured performer was Melanie Genin, playing the harp. The harp itself is such a beautiful and angelic instrument. From the look to the sound, there is something different about it. Watching her hands glide across the strings of the harp was simply mystifying. Her performance was seemingly flawless and makes me wonder how she made it look so effortless.

Finally, it was time for Dr. Kahan’s performance. I was quite excited to hear her play again since last time was so good. Her performance did not disappoint. The technical ability to be able to play so fast, with such accuracy and dynamics is amazing. It was just as mistake free as last time, showing how much preparation she puts into her performances. I am glad that I was able to see her perform a second time. There are many things that I can take away from her dedication to her craft.

I have never been to a live event where music was the star. While I do enjoy music, I just do not tend to go out of my way to listen to it. Going to listen to an orchestra  just for the orchestra itself was a first for me, and I realized that when all other distractions were out of the way, it was easy to focus on the music and enjoy it.

One thing that I noticed when I looked at the guide and while I was listening was that several of the pieces were focused around clarinets. I don’t think I’ve ever heard clarinet any music that was clarinet-heavy, so it felt sort of new and classical at the same time. Out of these, I enjoyed “La Sonnambula” the most. It seemed whimsical, and at certain parts, I could practically picture a black-and-white cartoon. What stood out in particular though from this piece was when both of the clarinet players messed up individually at different parts. I have very little experience with music but I know that it can get very complex and difficult, so it’s not surprising that even great musicians sometimes mess up in front of an audience.

When it came around, Dr. Kahan’s performance felt the most “wholesome”, for lack of a better word. Perhaps this was because it was because of Bach, but the music sounded very regal and elegant, as if it was the meant for only the best of the best to hear. The Allegro sections were relatively fast paced, while the Adagio was slower, deeper, and more somber. Perhaps it was the cycle that made the piece feel wholesome. In any case, any orchestral piece is the sum of its parts, and I felt that the “background” performers did very well to accentuate and compliment the primary instruments. Overall, I would say that my experience was quite nice and that I wouldn’t mind going to another orchestra in the future.

I had to begin this by saying first how absolutely beautiful the church was.  I couldn’t stop staring at the ornate stonework of the ceiling.  The architecture just added to the ambiance of the show.  I thoroughly enjoyed the show, especially the pieces that had the harp.  I thought that the pieces were extremely interesting in that they all blended together in a way as if there were no breaks between each performance.

From the chamber and orchestral ensembles that I have been to, I have never seen a harp used.  I thought the sound was subtle, but it added a beautiful underlying tone to the music.  When I think of harp music, I automatically think of soft, angelic music, which makes it so unexpected for the harp to be featured in such a vivid piece.

Doctor Kahan was phenomenal as always.  As someone who especially enjoys listening to piano compositions it is always amazing to watch someone actually play it right in front of you.

Throughout this seminar, I’ve gotten to experience many firsts –my first dance concert, first opera, and now, first orchestral performance. As a lover of classical music, I was excited to finally listen to an orchestra in person. All instruments are beautiful and interesting on their own merits, but when their sounds are added together, the experience is even more magical.

When I heard that the event would take place in a church, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I figured that the church had to be fairly large to hold an orchestra. When I arrived, I realized that St. Ann’s was the perfect venue; it enabled for an intimate performance, while the high ceilings and stain-glassed windows created a sense of grandeur. Also, the building lends itself to providing great acoustics for performers.

All of the musicians were very talented, and the soloists were all given the chance to showcase their skills. I enjoyed the first performance of Hameum Svita by the clarinetists Guido Arbonelli and Natalia Benedetti. I wasn’t quite sure what happened during the duet from “La Sonnambula,” but it seemed as though they ran into a bit of trouble when they started correcting one another. It just goes to show that everybody makes mistakes! I have to admit, the situation was slightly humorous, but it would be unfair of me to laugh. I’ve never even attempted to play the clarinet –or any wind instrument for that matter –and I have tremendous respect for their talent and ability to perform.

One of my favorite performances of the night was Danse Sacree et Profane by the harpist Mélanie Genin. Debussy has always been one of my favorite composers, and I appreciated getting to hear his music live. I was transfixed and mesmerized by Mélanie’s hands as they moved up and down the strings. As I watched, I realized that I wish I knew how to play the harp. Maybe I’ll get the chance to learn someday, (though I assume harps are quite expensive, and I doubt one would be able to fit in my house, so I’ll have to put that thought on hold for a while!)

My other favorite performance was Bach’s Concerto for Piano No. 1 in D Minor played by Dr. Kahan. It was great to see her perform again! The power and intensity with which she played were exhilarating to hear. And her talent, combined with the backing of the orchestra, made for a splendid performance. The two Allegro parts were fast and exciting, while the Adagio was reflective, beautiful, and calming.

I was also impressed by Una Tone’s performance. She played quickly and fiercely, with a dexterity that was fascinating to watch. I also appreciated that the drums and tambourine were incorporated to Romanza – Lento and Danse.

I enjoyed the entire evening, and I would definitely want to see more orchestral performances in the future. Like Dr. Kahan’s recital, this event reminded me how much I miss music. As I mentioned in one of my earlier blog posts, I played piano for several years, and eventually got lazy and neglected practicing due to school and other obligations. I’ve already decided to begin taking lessons again, but now I want to learn the harp too! …And the violin. So many instruments, so little time and money. I suppose I should’ve started when I was younger! Oh well. All that aside, I’m glad this course has given me a much greater appreciation of music.

Today we went to St. Ann’s Church in Brooklyn Height to watch An Afternoon of Concerti. A concerti is a musical piece written for one single instrument with a background of orchestral music. Guido Arbonelli and Natalia Benedetti played clarinets in several pieces and did a great job at it too. Natalia swayed her head to the music and was very into it so I could see she enjoyed playing the clarinet, but Guido did too. He was more serious about it but I was mesmerized by the way they played because they seemed to converse through their clarinets. I could almost imagine the dance behind the music and the conversation they were having through their songs. The harp was genius in my opinion; from the minute she came on I could not take my eyes off of her playing that instrument. Melanie Genin was very skilled, you could tell, and the piece itself sounded magical.

After intermission, Dr. Kahan came out to play Bach and my favorite part was Adagio. It captured my attention from the beginning and the almost dark feeling to it was ear-pleasing. The music made me suddenly think of all of the sad times and just set a certain mood and I to this minute can’t forget it. In fact, I’m listening to it on Youtube as I write this. Dr. Kahan, of course, perfomed very well just like the concert at CSI and I enjoyed the piano. Another piece that I really enjoyed was Wild Flowers, I could picture this to be the song in a cartoon while there are flowers swaying in the wind. Last but not least, The Other Garden impressed me beyond belief. The fact that there were three pieces of improvisation for the orchestra shocked me and the “organized mess” of sound turned out to be alluring and mysterious. Una Tone finished with three violin pieces which were also very impressive. Overall, I enjoyed all of the music and the church atmosphere added to the classical feel of the evening.

Today, we got to go see the Metro Chamber Orchestra perform at the Church of St. Ann and the Holy Trinity. The first half of the performance, before the intermission, featured Guido Arbonelli and Natalia Benedetti each on the clarinet. Though one of the songs seemed to have been performed flawlessly, the other song contained a few noticeable mistakes as at one point Guido had to correct Natalia, and later in the same song, Natalia also had to correct Guido. The first half of the performance also featured a song with Méanie Genin on the harp. Though I have seen and heard a harp being performed live many times, including as recently as this past Wednesday at the Metropolitan Opera when we went to go see Aida (I remember noticing two harp players when I was analyzing the orchestra before the second act started) I had never seen or heard a harp being featured in a song, so I really loved this performance. I think that the sound of the harp was so beautiful and melodic, and I found that it complemented the sound of the orchestra quite well. I was amazed by the speed at which Méanie could move her fingers, and was awestruck by how hard it must be to make sure you get the right strings at the right time. After intermission, Dr. Kahan was the first one to perform. I was amazed by her talent when we saw her perform last month at CSI, and was once again in awe. Dr. Kahan’s talent never ceases to amaze me, and I enjoyed the piece that she performed today just as much as the pieces that she performed last time. It is always nice to get to see Dr. Kahan perform outside of the typical classroom setting. Next, the clarinet players came out again to perform two more pieces. The second piece, The Other Garden (they didn’t follow the order in the program) featured three minutes of improvisation by the orchestra. I knew from playing songs in jazz band in the past that had sections that required the whole band to improvise that although it sounds like a cool idea at first, it almost always ends up sounding like a hot mess. The last piece of the night featured Una Tone on the violin. During intermission, Elina pointed out to me that it said in Una’s bio that she is the concertmaster in On The Town on Broadway right now. I found that interesting since practically every performance that we have gone to this semester can seemingly coincidentally be traced back to this musical.

St. Ann’s Church in Brooklyn was beautiful. The gothic style architecture, the light shinning through the glasses, and the ancient looking chandeliers made me feel like I went into a time machine and went back to the classical era. The venue suited the type of music we would be listening to. Having been exposed to classical music in class and many events, I have grown and become quite fond of classical music. So, I had an idea of what to expect tonight.

The performance that surprised me a lot tonight was the clarinets. The two musicians playing the clarinets seemed to be having a difficult time playing together. They both made mistakes and they both corrected each other’s mistakes, which was very amusing. I know that sometimes mistakes could happen, but they should have rehearsed a little more. I felt bad for the performers, but they still kept performing and kept the show going on which is commendable. If I made a mistake, I would just freeze and not know what to do. One of the things I noticed is how much physical strength and lung capacity you much have in order to play the clarinet; this was quite evident by their faces turning red.

When I saw that someone would be playing the harp in the card we received in class, I was very excited to see that performance. I have seen people play the harps on the Internet, but never in real life. I was amazed and mesmerized with the harp and the beautiful sounds it created. The harpist seemed to be extremely focused and attentive in her performance, making sure that her hand was on the right string at the right time. The violinist’s performance was also amazing. At some times the violin screeched and it was intolerable, so I had to close my ears. But, at other times the violin sounded beautiful and it showed the dexterity of the musician. I especially enjoyed her performance during the last part of the concerto.

In my opinion, Dr. Kahan seemed to have stolen the show. When Dr. Kahan came out to play her piece, many people in the audience began to take their phones out to record her performance. This really did not seem to happen during the other performances, which just shows how famous and well-respected Dr. Kahan is. I have witnessed Dr. Kahan play the piano before, so I know how skilled and amazing she is. Her performance tonight like last time did not have any mistakes, which shows how many hours of preparation and effort she has put into her performance. Also, the piano seemed to compliment and suit the orchestra very well. I enjoyed each of the performances tonight.

This evening some of my classmates and I went to Brooklyn to see the Metro Chamber Orchestra, featuring four soloists including our professor Dr. Kahan. The performance featured two clarinet players playing together, Guido Arbonelli and Natalia Benedetti. Also involved was Meanie Genin on the harp and Una Tone on the violin.

The first performance featured the clarinet players. This performance was very good, although a couple blunders made the audience titter. Natalia Benedetti was apparently playing the wrong music, because her partner, Guido Arbonelli dramatically cut her off and corrected her papers, much to her embarrassment. I was shocked by this interruption, as I personally feel that to call her out on her mistake was unnecessary as much of the audience probably would not have picked up on her error.  I feel that it would have been more appropriate they had improvised a way to correct it or go back to the correct piece of music in a more subtle way. However, in a dramatic plot twist, a few minutes later it was Natalia’s turn to publicly correct Guido! Because he had originally embarrassed her, I was less affronted when she did the same to him. On the other hand, I felt that the whole situation showed a lack of teamwork and camaraderie between the two clarinet players, though I must admit this did not take away from their evident talent.  Natalia in particular was very intense throughout her performance; her face was very expressive and matched the tempo and emotion the music was conveying.

The next performance, by Ms. Genin on the harp was epically beautiful. I have actually never heard a harp being played in real life and so I was astounded by the gentleness of its sound.  The clarinet players then made a reappearance, after which came the intermission. After the intermission, it was Dr. Kahan’s turn to perform. Unlike everyone else, Dr. Kahan made a grand entrance that set the stage for her piano playing.  The performance lasted approximately twenty minutes and at one point Dr. Kahan played with only one hand! I had a clear view of Dr. Kahan’s hands as she played and I noted that they were very nimble, the speed was astonishing. Some parts of her performance became very intense.

Next, we were told that the clarinet players would be performing the world premiere of “Wild Flowers”, followed by “The Other Garden” which, interestingly, involved a three minute improvisation. This meant that at no point would two performances of this piece be the same.  Both sets were beautifully played, and this time there weren’t any obvious mistakes.  The last performance, by Una Tone, was simply incredible. She played with amazing talent.  At some points I was slightly confused by the fact that parts of her playing was reminiscent of dolphin noises! Nevertheless, Una Tone’s work on the violin was a great way to end the show on a high note.

I was honored to hear Dr. Sylvia Kahan perform at the Metro Chamber Orchestra today! I was not able to make it to the last one and went to see the Juilliard Orchestra as a make up, but I am so glad I was given this opportunity. All my classmates had nothing bad to say about her performance at CSI and now I can say the same. I was impressed by the enthusiasm and concentration put in throughout the entire selection! It was definitely one of my favorites of the entire performance. My other favorite was the harp. This is going to sound silly, but I have always, always loved the harp! Ever since I was a little kid, I loved the sound of the harp! I actually fell in love with it under peculiar circumstances.

I had this game, a jumpstart readers game because I have always loved books and stories, and my favorite story out of all of them was Jack and the Beanstalk. You can guess which part of the game I spent the most time on, playing the harp! It was interactive and let the player compose their own music from the harp and replay it. I played this part of the game for hours and hours on end. Imagine my excitement in learning that I was to hear the harp-in real life! It was a treat for sure. I loved the entire performance by Melanie Genin! It was pretty and enchanting, I was in love!

My least favorite parts of the performance were the three clarinet parts. I liked it at times, but at others it was off putting, especially when I could hear them breathing. I would say their first performance was the best out of all of them. The violinist was also phenomenal, but there were parts when the violin, albeit intentionally screeched, and I did not like it at all. I adore the violin, but I can’t tolerate its screeching. When the violin was not screeching, the performance was mind blowing! Overall, I really enjoyed the Metro Chamber Orchestra!