CENTERblog

Anchorage Symphony Orchestra Orchestrates Another Great Show
by Emily Klopfer - Dimond High School

As the immense crowd filtered into the Atwood Concert Hall Saturday night, the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra sat at the ready. A smaller section of the orchestra was prepared to play the opening serenade for the ASO’s Sweet Serenade concert.

The lights dimmed to the age-old sound of an orchestra tuning. Kathryn Hoffer, concertmaster, stood proudly while tuning her orchestra from her violin. Once the orchestra ceased their tuning, Randall Craig Fleischer took to the stage to conduct. He was welcomed to the podium by a wild applause from a concert hall nearly completely filled with symphony enthusiasts, patrons, and those new to the orchestra.

Fleischer raised his arms and the string section raised their bows, the entire hall silent in wait for the opening note. Suddenly, Fleischer brought down his arms and the concert commenced.

The beginning selection of Sweet Serenade comes from the well-known Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His “Serenade in G Major, K. 525,” also called “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” added to the feel of a sweet serenade. The four parts to Mozart’s selection were Allegro, Romanze: Adante, Minuetto: Allegretto, and Rondo: Allegro. In these sections, the orchestra was superb. Mozart’s “Serenade in G Major” is often a more recognized sound, and the orchestra was able to create that famous sound with crisp, clear notes. Not a squeak was heard throughout the violin, viola, cello, and bass sections. Each one combined to make that harmony of music so key in an excellent orchestra. When the orchestra ended their Mozart collection, their applause was well deserved.

Sharman Piper was the guest for tonight’s concert. She brought the first woodwind instrument of the night to the stage by way of an oboe. Following Piper, more members of the string section filed in to take their place and fill out the orchestra. The collection that ensued was teeming with just as much talent as the previous collection. With Piper, the orchestra played “Down a River of Time; Concerto for Oboe and String Orchestra,” composed by Eric Ewazen. This collection was split into three sections. Once again, the string orchestra displayed their exceptional talent and created music of professionals. Piper’s oboe seemed to sing as she hit each note and carried her long strings of solo throughout the collection. As the string orchestra plus oboe rose to take their bows at the conclusion of the collection, they were again greeted with roaring applause, even a standing ovation.

A brief intermission followed, and then the orchestra embarked upon their finale: “Serenade No. 1 in D Major, Op.11,” composed by Brahms. For this collection, the string orchestra was joined by the band section, creating the complete Anchorage Symphony Orchestra. Brahms serenade was split into six sections: Allegro Molto, Scherzo, Adagio non troppo, Minuetto I and II, Scherzo Allegro, and Rondo Allegro. The way the band easily slipped in to fill the orchestra made one forget what the orchestra sounded like before the band. The ending collection was an excellent choice to demonstrate the full talent of the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra.

All in all, a night at the symphony was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday night. It really was a “Sweet Serenade.”

Classic Concert #3: Sweet Serenade
Anchorage Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, January 16, 2011 at 8pm
Atwood Concert Hall