A Memorable Storytelling Performance ended this Summers River Concert Series on July 25th

The popular concert series finished its 6th Friday concert on the green at St. Mary’s College of Maryland last Friday at 7pm with a stellar performance.  The first half of the concert featured a repeat performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade", one of the most romantic pieces ever composed. The music tells the story of Scheherazade, a wife of a Persian King who saves her life by spinning interesting tales to her husband of 1001 Arabian Nights.  As music director, Jeffrey Silberschlag summarized "in the morning he (the king) had regrets.  He chopped their heads off (his wives).  And ah...It's an old system."

Jose Cueto, concertmaster violinist masterfully played the challenging voice of Scheherazade.  The four movement piece was wonderful and we enjoyed it as much as the previous performance several years ago, featuring violinist Regino Madrid.  Jeffrey described the "beautiful melodies in the cellos and horns, tongueing by the brass and fast notes in the clarinets and bassoons."  And lots of soaring strings.

 José Cueto and Regino Madrid

José Cueto and Jeffrey Silberschlag 

 The Chesapeake Orchestra Bows

 Two Cellists

The Second half of the concert starred Maureen McGovern, 1970's superstar singer of "The Morning After", from the hit movie "The Poseidon Adventure".   Her birthday was coming up, so she sang a silly amusing acapella happy birthday song to herself to the tune of “The William Tell Overture".  The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" was well sung with enthusiastic accompaniment by Victor Dvoskin on Bass. 

Ms. McGovern shared some amusing childhood stories about constantly singing. She talked about, “my parents in the living room desperately trying to watch Walter Cronkite while I was wondering ‘Where the Boys Are’, someone waits for me…”
I also enjoyed singing along with lots of 1960’s and 1970’s hits like Carole King’s  “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”, “If I Had a Hammer”, “Turn!  Turn!  Turn!”, “When I’m Sixty-Four” and “Let It Be”.   Maureen McGovern may no longer be young, but she sure can give a great show and a fairly long show at that.  The concert was at least 45 minutes to an hour longer than usual and didn’t fail to include the Chesapeake Orchestra’s signature goodbye song “Sleigh Ride”.  The audience had enough repeat watchers to be giggling and clapping even before the music started as Jeffrey Silberschlag once again said “The Chesapeake Orchestra would like to be the First, to wish you a Merry Merry Christmas.”

Three photos of Maureen McGovern

The July 18th River Concert

We had another lovely balmy summer evening for the fifth River Concert Series performance on Friday July 18th on the Green at St. Mary's College of Maryland. The concert began around 7pm as usual and featured Belgian trained pianist, Patrick Dheur.  He played "Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra" by Cesar Frank with a flourish.  Not to be outdone, the Chesapeake Orchestra seemed like it was the largest of the summer, including the harp, many strings, horns, woodwinds and percussion.  

We also enjoyed Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet:  Fantasy Overture",  the first piece.  Jeffrey Silberschlag introduced the romantic work by saying "Romeo and Juliet answers the musical question;  Why didn't they just give those kids a cell phone?  Cause you know they could have just texted "Priest gave me drugs.   Pope's from Argentina.  Everything's okay.  See  you later, and... no problem.  This is powerful music.  Several times during the rehearsal period, I had to stop because various members of the orchestra found themselves attracted to their stand partners.  You may have that problem too.  Just look away."  

My favorite work for the evening was "Symphony No. 6 'Pathétique'" with the regal sounding march and soaring violins in the Third movement.  It was beautifully played.

                                           Admiral Tim Heely

                                           Patrick Dheur

                     Andrew Llewellyn at the Chesapeake Orchestra tent

                                                                  Jeffrey Silberschlag

The River Concert on July 11th was a Great Night for Song

Highlights of last Friday’s concert, conducted by Larry Vote, included music from Puccini’ s “Madama Butterfly”, Verdi’s “La Traviata” and the Bridal Chorus from “Lohengrin” by Wagner.  The “Bridal Chorus” often thought of as “Here Comes the Bride”, was sung in German.  I kind of knew it had origins other than that well known piece used as the processional for weddings, but many of us haven’t heard it with the words.  Interesting.  The concert was held on the green at St. Mary’s College of Maryland at 7:00pm as usual and included popular Arias, choruses and overtures from operas.  Larry described the evening as a box of chocolates with a variety of flavors.

Guest star Danielle Talamantes had a spectacular soprano voice, with wonderful voice control, power and lots of expression.  She was dressed in an eye catching full length purple gown which added color to the “Italian patriotic” tent spotlights of green, yellow, and red.  The Chesapeake Orchestra and the River Concert Series Chorus shared the stage throughout the concert. All of the participants took turns as the predominant musical focus.  I thought the chorus sounded wonderful even though they only had 3 practices!  (I would have loved to join them if I hadn’t been the photographer)

Here are a few photos…

 

 

River concert tonight 7pm

St. May's College of MD green

Conductor Larry Vote

Wonderful Big Band Friday Night at the River Concert

The Chesapeake Orchestra Big Band played lots of old favorites like "In the Mood", "American Patrol", "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and "Moonlight Serenade".  The green at St. Mary's College of Maryland was very crowded and bursting at the seams on Friday, July 4th (7pm).  There was a fairly strong breeze courtesy of Hurricane Arthur, which wasn't too close, after having hit the coast of North Carolina.

Jeffrey Silberschlag, music director commented "...I want to also thank Maryland once again for not sticking needlessly out into the Atlantic like North Carolina"

The concert featured Stephanie Jordan, a very talented and expressive jazz singer from New Orleans.  She was a last minute addition to the program and is a big Lena Horne fan.  Some of her songs included "On a Clear Day", "I'm Beginning to See the Light" and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man".

Fireworks ended the program , but it was quite windy, so I was surprised that they still went up as planned.  Solomon's Island moved their fireworks to Saturday night!

                Stephanie Jordan

                 Jeffrey Silberschlag

      A patriotic member of the audience

 Fireworks with Bandshell 

                 by Jim Macaulay