“Beethoven is in the house,” announced stage manager Mark Keller, and sure enough he was.
A colorful bust of a scowling man with tousled brown hair and a flamboyant red tie presided on a plinth on stage, as the Downey Symphony Orchestra played its birthday tribute to him on the anniversary of his 250th birthday. Beethoven didn’t look a day over 40, which he actually was, when he completed tonight’s masterpieces.
Conductor Sharon conducted the audience a capella in singing Happy Birthday to Dear Ludwig to start the concert. And two hours later, spectacular piano soloist Sung Chang gave us an encore of the same melody with a thrilling set of trilling hummingbird variations to conclude it.
In between these impromptu moments, the audience was captivated by Beethoven’s Creatures of Prometheus Overture, the romantic Second Symphony, and the piano and orchestra pyrotechnics of the Emperor Piano Concerto #5.
Seen in the lobby at Intermission: former Downey Symphonic Society president Nick Frankart and wife Mary, a Downey native; and contributors Adele Ambruso and Mary Golay. President of the Downey Family YMCA Board of Managers Greg Welch; and long-time patrons Tom and Michele Hutchinson, were enjoying the evening, as were artist Roy Anthony Shabla and poet Clifton Snider.
Glass-worker Terry Walker was busy choosing her favorite item at the art show. As Terry said, “Beethoven under the wonderful leadership of our fantastic conductor is super loud and to amazingly tranquil.”
DSS President Don Marshall encouraged the audience to take pictures with their smartphones and display them on social media. Dorothy Pemberton did just that, with a selfie showing Downey patriarch Bob Brazelton, with Vicky Carnivale and friends in a group selfie which Dorothy promptly put on Facebook, showing everyone what an awesome evening it was.
It’s nice to see a nearly full house. Audience numbers are climbing, which makes the orchestra members happy too. They don’t really enjoy playing to empty seats. As always, the public is invited to “come on down” and share the evening. Cindy Kovach and family, “her loves,” had a great time.
Observant patrons noticed that tonight’s was a smaller orchestra, 42 members. Beethoven obligingly scored the instrumentation for this Second Symphony with less members than, say, his monumental 9th. That allowed Music Director Lavery to keep within DSS guidelines and offer one smaller concert along with two bigger, and costlier, evenings.
Also seen gracing the lobby: Steve and Mary Lorenzetti; long-time patron Bernice Mancebo Stumps; and Barbara and Roy Beard. Katie Hare and a posse of her Downey friends were snug on the patio with its efficient heat lamps. It was a clear and only slightly cool Southern California evening, but the lamps kept off the chill. Many more patrons were there, and I apologize for not knowing all your names, but your presence is appreciated.
Mary Stevens organized the program table as always, assisted by fellow Board member JoAnne Gronley. Joyce Sherwin, rosy in a vibrant silk jacket, kept an eye on lobby traffic. The Board members of the Society not only love classical music, they all relish their tasks in putting on the evening show.
"Happy" - Google News
January 20, 2020 at 10:30PM
https://ift.tt/2sM3NcO
Happy birthday to Beethoven from Downey - The Downey Patriot
"Happy" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2VPek0I
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
No comments:
Post a Comment