Rare Rained Out River Concert on July 14, 2017

A threatening storm and downpour cancelled a wonderful River Concert which would have featured a ballet, tango and clarinet Concerto by the Chesapeake Orchestra and friends at St. Mary's College of Maryland.

I photographed a few rehearsing musicians before the audience was requested to take cover from the impending thunderstorm.  I wished we had arrived earlier for more of the rehearsal.  If you have any photos taken of the rehearsal, please feel free to share them.

Jose՛ Cueto, Concertmaster

 The skies started looking ominous before it was strongly suggested to take cover from the storm.

 Our friend, Scott Jacoby, was still at work supporting the Newtowne Players

 After a downpour, the sun peaked out between the clouds, while one of the vendors had braced their tent from the storm. 

 Taking away the chairs.  This shot said it all!

 Mud

 Puddle reflection of the Arts Alliance tent

 Short sunset

 Jeffrey Silberschlag.  Oh well.  (The risks of holding an outdoor concert.)

 Reflections of the vendor trucks

Raindrops

Visit chesapeakeorchestra.org for upcoming concert information for next weekend.

River Concert June 17th Features José Cueto

The Chesapeake Orchestra held their first  concert of the 2016 season at St. Mary's College of MD on the green.  José Cueto was the featured violinist for a Night in Old Vienna with music by Johann Strauss Jr. , Tomasso Vitali, Johannes Brahms and Franz Schubert.  The weather was delightful after earlier predictions of rain, although the ground was a little soft in places.

Lovely night, lovely music!  I'm partial to "On the beautiful Blue Danube"

    Tuajuanda Jordan, St. Mary's College of MD President opening the concert

     José Cueto

     Horns and trumpets

     Jeffrey Silberschlag, Music Director

     Basses

     Conducting

     Bows

River Concert Friday June 26th, St. Mary's College of Maryland

Nathaniel Silberschlag was the star performer on horn, a very talented 16 year old.  Actually his whole family is very talented!  He played the solo part in Mozart's Concerto number 4 for Horn and did a superb job for the Chesapeake Orchestra.  I am looking forward to the Friday July 3rd concert, "Superman, Sousa, Saturday Night Live".

       Nathaniel Silberschlag

       Nice tux!

      Maestro Jeffrey Silberschlag cueing 

       Nate

        Good job!

    Zach Silberschlag on trumpet (right)

    Photographed from backstage

      Nice sunset

      Violins

      Jose Cueto, Concertmaster 1st Violin

       The Chesapeake Orchestra

Baroque River Concert July 19th

We photographed the Baroque Themed River Concert on  July 19th at St. Mary's College of Maryland on a hot steamy evening. The concert featured talented musicians from the Chesapeake Orchestra and some of our favorite music.  I particularly like George Frideric Handel's "Royal Fireworks Music" and "Water Music".  I learned to love "Water Music" while watching the Water parade at Disney World many years ago. 

We also enjoy watching José Cueto, concert master since we have had a few nice conversations with him over the years.

I suppose the musicians get a little used to the heat.  It is even hotter under the band shell.  Jeffrey Silberschlag actually wore his tux after intermission.  He is a very dedicated man.

To see my photos and review, visit the Bay Net at https://www.thebaynet.com/news/index.cfm/fa/viewstory/story_ID/32985

Here are a few of the photos to entice you...

Jeffrey Silbershlag and José Cueto practicing

 I could just barely see this musician and was challenged to see if I could get him in focus behind the cellist's arm.  I thought it would make a unique photo, even though it was very busy.

 Zach and Jeffrey Silberschlag, Carlton Rowe

 

Fatma Daglar on oboe

River Concert 6: The Eternal Flame Goes On Despite the Heat

A number of die hard music lovers and the Chesapeake Orchestra attended the River Concert on Friday July 22nd at 730PM,at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in the sweltering heat of high summer. The concert was purposely delayed a half hour, hoping the temperature would drop a little. The college kindly provided four cooling centers with air conditioning and cold water to help avoid health issues in the dangerous heat. Survival required lots of liquid refreshment and a visit to Kona Water Ice or Brewster Ice Cream. The little monkey statues at the Sunshines Catering Vendor described the evening well (pictured).

The evenings fare started with Leonard Bernstein’s “Three Dance Variations” from the ballet “Fancy Free”. This modern work was well played. I enjoyed the 3rd movement Danzon with lots of timpani and other percussion and a similarity to “West Side Story”. The first movement, Galop, was disjointed, abrupt and repetitive, while the Waltz was quieter and jerkier with lots of trumpets.

Judah Adashi’s ”Grace”, a 10 minute work, was presented next and was introduced by the composer. Mr. Adashi explained that the piece was in memory of rock star Jeff Buckley. José Cueto (pictured) expertly played this brief musical work with its soaring falsetto violin part with high notes difficult to even think, and Middle Eastern scales inspired by Adashi’s Israeli parentage.

Adashi’s music was followed by another short work by Jeffrey’s “favorite undead composer, David Froom”. “Amichai Songs” featured an excellent baritone soloist, William Sharp (pictured). While Froom insisted that his third movement, “The House of Lovers” was gentle and romantic, with the words “If we are lucky the house will collapse and the light will be set free for the whole world”, I wasn’t quite sure I agreed.

The highlight of the evening was definitely Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No. 1 “The Titan”. The early part of the work was about nature and included repeated 2 notes on flute, sort of like raindrops on leaves. Later in the piece, some of the music was written in waltz time (1,2,3!) and the influence of the Hasidic could plainly be heard, along with snatches of “Frére Jacques” in a minor key in the third movement. The last section was definitely the best. How the orchestra survived the last energetic movement without at least one person being escorted away by the Ridge Rescue Squad was unknown, but their determination was much admired.

An Evening at the Summer Palace: A River Concert that Wowed the Audience

The Baroque themed second River Concert of the 2011 Season was held at St. Mary’s College of Maryland on Friday June 24, 2011. Music Director, Jeffrey Silberschlag joked that the Chesapeake Orchestra called it “Sweating to the Oldies”. Entirely performed by a smaller chamber orchestra complete with harpsichord and friends, the evening was delightful.

Wow, what a concert! Each new solo performer brought the audience to their feet. It was probably one of the longest concerts, and definitely one of the best. The evening began with J.S. Bach’s “Orchestral Suite No. 3”, which included the well known “Air” movement, commonly referred to as the Air on the G string and often used in weddings. The movement is one of the most widely recognized Baroque pieces ever written.

Giuseppe Nova, co-director of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Alba Campus expertly played solo flute in the “Orchestral Suite in B Minor”, again by Bach. This mostly light and cheerful piece included a triple solo with harpsichord, Mr. Nova, and Suzanne Orban on Cello. Mr. Nova received the first standing ovation and an extra bow.

Fatma Daglar, principle Oboist for the Chesapeake Orchestra for many years, played “Concerto for Oboe” by B. Marcello with much feeling, using her whole body including her foot and even her eyebrows. Cellist Suzanne Orban, heard many times with the Chesapeake Orchestra, played “Concerto for Cello in G Major”. This very difficult piece included many fast paced sections that required intense concentration by Ms. Orban.

The lovely young Nina DeCesare (pictured), 2010 winner of the Young Artist Competition, wowed the audience with some very impressive high notes on the double Bass in “Concerto for Double Bass in D Major” by J.B. Vanhal. Viewers spontaneously clapped after a particularly difficult section and also gave her a standing ovation.

Trombonist, Bryan Bourne, played the half sized alto trombone in “Concerto for Trombone” written by Michael Hayden, the brother of well known Joseph Hayden. This piece began very slowly and was very smoothly played by Mr. Bourne, and later included a light hearted section and a short solo by violinist Jose Cueto.

The concert ended spectacularly with flautists Giuseppe Nova and Karen Johnson, and violinist Jose Cueto (pictured) in Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No 4”, and the well known and personal favorite, “Water Music” by G. F. Handel.

Jeffrey Silberschlag reminded the audience that next week’s concert features fireworks, a flyover to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Naval Aviation, and that famous piece written about the French Russian war that we Americans have somehow claimed for the Fourth of July, Tchaikovsky’s ”1812 Overture”. The concert will be “BYOAPI” or “bring your own apple pie”. Be sure to get there early!