Blog Love to Delaware

Just a quick note: One thing I love most about our state is that we're small but mighty. And when we "inspired folks" put our energy into our passions, great things happen.

There's much to be excited about in Arts & Entertainment here, and we're making great strides to spread the good word...along with our blogspace, we've got some very cool pals that are doing a damn good job of helping get the word out about artists, the Arts, nightlife, happenings and just all-around fun stuff that goes on throughout the state.

In the spirit of collaboration and a gesture of thanks to all who put the time in and care enough to do it, here's a list of "partner" blogs. Please support their (and our) efforts to keep you "in the know"! Rock on, fellow bloggers!

New Wilmington Art Association

http://newwilmingtonart.blogspot.com/

Wilmonites

http://wilmonites.blogspot.com/

Delaware Today Arts Buzz

http://www.delawaretoday.com/Blogs/The-Arts-Buzz/

Support the Arts and the blogs that love them!

Art.Music.Wine.Love,

Michelle

DSO: Touching the Soul

Violinist Jennifer Koh wowed the audience at Wilmington’s Grand Opera House this past weekend with her performance of Samuel Barber’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra Opus 14. To watch her play was to watch an intimate, elegant dance; each sound flowed from her caress of the instrument and was accompanied by an expression of deep emotion in her face. The first movement of the piece was trademark Barber: heartfelt and full of yearning. The last movement, Presto in moto perpetuo, gave Koh an opportunity to show her “spark”. Her virtuosic playing was splendid and brought the audience to its feet.

David Amado, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, is a seasoned concert programmer as well as a dynamic leader. During the pre-concert lecture sponsored by the Delaware Humanities Forum, Amado discussed presenting works that may be challenging, yet still accessible for his audiences. Amazingly, the Ives’ Three Places in New England was receiving its DSO debut. This piece, written in 1935, still sounds so fresh to my ears. Ives embraced the sights and sounds around him, weaving them into three quirky, very different movements. Amado encouraged us to laugh during the second movement, which was a comical imitation of a small town marching band.

The theme of “place” was ever-present throughout the evening. Entitled “Dreams of Rivers”, the program gave odes to the Housatonic and Rhine rivers. Mark Mobley, DSO Director of Community Engagement, discussed with Amado his identification with composers and their homes. Amado noted that he placed little importance in composers’ physical roots. A powerful statement, reminding me that music transcends locale; it’s mostly about touching the heart and soul.

See http://www.delawaresymphony.org/

by Jessica Graae

Samuel Barber Centennial

Composer Samuel Barber's hometown of West Chester, Pa., intends to present a concert of his music every month through 2010. His 100th birthday is in March.

Programs will be held at Chester County Historical Society, West Chester University and the First Presbyterian Church of West Chester.

The schedule from January to May is already available at http://www.chestercohistorical.org/.

Barber left lots to choose from -- particularly art songs and chamber music, as well as orchestral work and several operas. His famous Adagio for Strings is, as his biographer Barbara Heyman put it, the tip of the iceberg.

The Barber family home is on Church Street, though Sam spent his adult life in New York and Europe. He was the son of a local doctor, and was the second student to enroll in the Curtis Institute of Music. His baritone voice was good enough that he studied singing as well, which accounts for his prolific vocal literature.

His maternal aunt, Louise Homer, was an acclaimed operatic contralto and sang Barber's songs in recitals while he was still a teenager. He also played the organ at First Presbyterian.