Showing posts with label Delaware Symphony Orchestra David Amado Delaware Valley Chorale David Christopher Wilmington Riverfront Fenwick Island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Delaware Symphony Orchestra David Amado Delaware Valley Chorale David Christopher Wilmington Riverfront Fenwick Island. Show all posts

Monday, May 16, 2011

Delaware Valley Chorale and Delaware Symphony at Immanuel Church


David Christopher conducted members of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and his Delaware Valley Chorale in a performance May 15 at Immanuel Church on Pennsylvania Avenue.


The Gloria by Lee Hoiby, an American composer who died at age 85 this past March, was harmonically conservative. Hoiby was often accused of having the same style as those who preceded him a century before. Yet, he was called to Curtis by Gian Carlo Menotti after one of his friends showed his work to the famous composer and teacher at the Curtis Institute. Hoiby went on to have a long and successful career.


Written in memory of the brother of one of the DVC members, this piece has a lovely trumpet, trombone and timpani orchestration with organ obbligato that is tightly written and worked beautifully in the large stone sanctuary.


The Brahms Requiem had the support of 52 instrumentalists which sometimes overwhelmed the chorus, but sounded so good that you forgot about that right away.


Soloist Grant Youngblood had no problem holding his own against the group, mesmerizing the audience with his full, rich voice and his ability to communicate the Herr, lehre doch mich (Lord, make me know) and the Denn haben wir keine bleibende Stadt (For we have no continuing city).


Soprano June Suh’s mellow, rounded sound also carried over the orchestra without a hitch. Her high notes seemed effortless as she sang with quiet poise. Her solo melted away but the note continued on the flute in a transition so seamless no one knew where the soprano voice ended and the flute began.


It was a great idea to have players from the Delaware Symphony support this impressive chorale performance.


See www.delawarevalleychorale.org.


Wednesday, June 17, 2009

July 4th musical salute

Before the fireworks at Wilmington's Riverfront, hear the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and Delaware Valley Chorale do patriotic music at 8:30 p.m. July 4. Bring blankets and lawn chairs to Tubman-Garrett Park for the 8:30 p.m. concert. It's all free.

WDEL 1150 AM radio will broadcast the concert live that night too.

The orchestra plays Hollywood hits July 11 at the Freeman Center at Bayside, 4 miles west of Fenwick Island at the intersection of routes 54 and 20. This concert's at 7 p.m. -- with a July 12 rain date. It's also free.