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VIRGINIA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
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Reviews
Virginia Chamber Orchestra, Off to a Fine Start Washington Post, Tuesday, September 11, 2007; C07 The Virginia Chamber Orchestra opened its 37th season on Sunday before a packed and friendly audience at the Ernst Cultural Center of Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale. The music was familiar and friendly, too, although not without melancholy: Conductor Luis Haza opened with an episodic but emotionally charged rendition of Sibelius's "Valse Triste." Steven Hendrickson, principal trumpet of the National Symphony Orchestra, was featured in Hummel's splendidly superficial Trumpet Concerto, transposed from its original E Major to E-flat. Haza and the orchestra delivered bright, strongly rhythmic accompaniment as Hendrickson tossed off most of the turns and trills in the first movement with such verve that it was easy to forgive him a wrong note or two. The Andante was a pleasant interlude, featuring the trumpet's warm side. And Hendrickson made the finale a delight, enthusiastically handling its difficult leaps and ornamentation and contrasts between staccato and legato. The only oddity was taking the middle of the movement at a slower tempo than the bouncy start and brilliant finish. Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 concluded the program by showcasing the energy and fine balance of the entire ensemble. There is plenty of power in this symphony, which Beethoven wrote after the "Eroica," but there is also considerable delicacy. Haza skillfully brought out the bassoon line in the first movement, the middle voices in the second and the rhythmic vitality of the third. And the orchestra excelled in the finale's striking contrast of strong chords and lighter, scurrying passages -- proffering top-notch and genuinely cooperative musicmaking.
-- Mark J. Estren Under Music Director Luis Haza, the orchestra's 21 string players achieved a lovely balance of intellect and sensibility in Bach's Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D. The deliberate tempo allowed the conductor to emphasize the work's countermelodies. While he let the music ebb and flow naturally, Haza also coaxed some urgent swells at just the right moments. Joined by two horns and two oboes, the orchestra took on a bright energy in Mozart's Symphony No. 29 in A. Its crescendos in the first movement sounded as fresh and dramatic as its lilting melodies sang out with clarity in the second movement. Lively rhythms in the third movement led to a spirited finale that rollicked with playful calls and echoes.-------- Haza and the VCO kept the concerto on course, maintaining the work's colorful nature. Indeed their perseverance generated some fine moments between orchestra and cellist---- -- Grace Jean
Accolades from the Washington Post: The Virginia Chamber Orchestra has consistently received critical acclaim for the quality of its musical performances. The following are links to web sites where the original reviews can be found. Washington Post review of September 9, 2007 concert Washington Post review of March 20, 2005 concert (Scroll down after clicking the link) Washington Post review of February 6, 2004 concert |