Charlottesville is known for many things: the University, fine dining and clean air among them. However, Charlottesville is quickly gaining a reputation as a metropolis with an illustrious classical music scene.
The Charlottesville & University Symphony Orchestra, celebrating its 30th Anniversary, is comprised of exemplary University students and talented local musicians as well as prominent and seasoned professionals.
Under the guidance of music director Carl Roskott, winner of Downbeat Magazine's "Best Symphony Orchestra Recording" 10 years straight, the Symphony weaves a tapestry of melodies rivaling performances of larger, more distinguished orchestras, helping make Charlottesville a renowned member of the musical world.
On January 29 and 30, the orchestra offered a presentation themed "Winter Dreams," the third concert in the 2004-2005 season. The performance appropriately coincided with the snow and ice that the Charlottesville area received, only enhancing the whole mystique behind the Symphony.
First on the program was Mikhail Glinka's "'Russian and Ludmilla' Overture," a fairly fast-paced and upbeat piece. The musicians hit their marks, and the wave of rhythmic bows in the golden light was quite a sight.
Next was Sir Edward Elgar's "Cello Concerto" in E minor featuring world renowned cello artist Amy Leung and directed by University Assistant Professor and guest conductor Michael Slon.
Leung regularly plays with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and has performed in a nationally televised concert at the White House. She is representative of the grade-A talent the University Orchestra attracts.
Elgar's "Cello Concerto" is widely regarded as a masterful piece and is a must in every great cellist's repertoire. The arrangement, though melancholy and powerful, showcased the orchestra's range and musical diversity. And unlike the "Overture," the "Concerto" was divided into several consecutive pieces, not one short selection.
After an intermission, the audience was treated with Dmitri Shostakovich's "Symphony No. 1" in F minor. Like the "Cello Concerto," this selection was played in parts (allegretto, allegro, lento, and allegro molto).
Shostakovich's "Symphony," composed during the Russian revolution, utilizes percussion and piano, giving it a militaristic feel.
Skillful musicians created lyrical peaks and valleys, conveying the power and splendor of "Symphony No. 1," bringing the concert to an astounding, definitive close.
Before this performance, I had never attended a symphony performance at Cabell Hall. As such, I had no expectations of greatness. After two hours, I emerged from Cabell Hall with an invigorated spirit and appreciation for Charlottesville's burgeoning classical musical scene. Clearly, we have something special in the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra.
"Winter Dreams" was the third of five concerts scheduled for the 2004-2005 season. The fourth presentation, "Concerts for Orchestra," will be performed February 26 and 27. The last concert, "Russian Images," is scheduled for April 16 and 17.
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