 "Photo: photo by Bill King")
Last Friday in Duke Family Performance Hall, the internationally recognized symphonic director and visiting conductor, Scott Seaton, led the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra (DCSO). Scott Seaton made his international debut with the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg in 2007.
For the concert, Seaton chose four outstanding musical selections from the Classical and Romantic Era: Beethoven’s “Overture to Collin’s Coriolan,” Dvorak’s “Holoubek (The Wild Dove),” Brahms’ “Hungarian Dance No. 1” and Liszt’s “Les Préludes.”
“The music selection that the DCSO played tonight was very intense and challenging,” Tara Chamra, Professor of Music and Orchestra Director, commented. “The very fact that these students could master these pieces on top of their busy coursework is amazing. I’m very impressed.”
Chamra, DCSO’s usual orchestral director, is on sabbatical this semester.
Although all four pieces were equally moving and powerful, Seaton’s personal favorite, Dvorak’s “Holoubek,” certainly was the highlight of the evening performance for its diversity of moods.
“Overall the music was excellent, with lots of energy despite the difficult repertoire,” trumpeter Jeffrey Roth ’12 said. “Although there were just several spots at the end of Dvorak’s piece that could have gone better, we pulled it off very well. Scott’s guidance not only in Dvorak but in all pieces was crucial in our coming through with an outstanding performance.”
During the performance, several orchestra members took on new roles. “It’s funny because at certain moments throughout the performance the woodwinds handled the percussionists’ job,” commented percussionist and flutist Alexis Valauri-Orton ’12. “It was really engaging to see how they could handle it. But, overall the performance went extremely well.”
The orchestra entertained the house with Brahms’ famous work, “Hungarian Dance No.1.” Brahms’ vigorous dialogue between the sections set the stage for Liszt’s most famous symphonic poem “Les Préludes.” The DCSO beautifully captured the eloquence and structure of this piece that gracefully culminated in a vibrantly heroic tone.
“There was an extreme amount of energy being built between the audience and the orchestra,” Scott Aguila ’12 said. “Especially in the last piece, it just kept my attention locked in. Plus, because the conductor gave a little background before starting each peace, I could put the work in a certain context.”
After the orchestra’s final note, there was an immediate standing ovation rewarding the aesthetics of the performance, as well as all of the musicians’ passionate dedication.
At the end of the concert, the Davidsonian had an opportunity to ask Seaton about DCSO’s performance in light of working with many of the world’s most distinguished orchestras.
“This concert went extremely well in every sense of the word,” Seaton said with a content smile. “The DCSO came together as one and found their inner emotion, capturing the overall essence of what each song musically presented. Either they really knew what they were doing or were very scared. But seriously, I couldn’t be happier with Davidson’s orchestra.”
The next DCSO concert will take place Tue. April 21, at 7:30 p.m. in Duke Family Performance Hall. This Spring Concert sponsored by the Music department will highlight works by Haydn, Smetana and Strauss.
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