RSS 2.0 FeedThursday, December 28, 2011, Merrick Life
The symphonic performance delights listeners
Merrick Symphony reflects on concert.
by Richard Gilley
We are very fortunate in Merrick to have two superb musical artists who have given the musical world many great moments in music.
Cecelia Gniewek Brauer, a celebrated pianist, a member of the Metropolitan Opera who has given many solo keyboard performances all over the country and Judith Lorenz Witmer, a wonderful violinist, who has played with the La Scala Opera Orchestra in Milan Italy and in many symphonic groups in the New York-New Jersey area. Both musicians were heard recently as members of the Merrick Symphony Chamber Orchestra which performed in the Freeport Memorial Library to a capacity audience.
Conductor for this concert was Vincent Lionti from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, who also conducts the Westchester Youth orchestra. Maestro Lionti took this Chamber Orchestra through all the pieces with great sensitivity and panache.
Deborah Song, a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and currently enrolled in a two year program at the Juilliard School of Music was the violin soloist who performed the Winter portion of the “Four Seasons” by Vivaldi with electrifying technique and virtuosity. She also performed the solos in the “Serenade for Strings” by Joseph Suk and played the nostalgic encore “Schoen Rosmarin” by Fritz Kreisler to a standing ovation. This program also included the famous “L’Arlesienne Suite No. 1” by Bizet, the vivacious “Divertimento No. 1” by Mozart, and from the impressionistic period the “Pavane” by Ravel.
The program turned to a lighter mood and the Orchestra performed music from “Phantom of the Opera,” and from the film “Mondo Cane” arranged by R. Hayman which may have made some of the audience’s hearts beat faster from hearing all the lush harmonies written in these pieces. Last on the program was the “Radetsky March” by Strauss Sr. Maestro Lionti gave the audience cues when to clap to the rhythm.
When it ended, the audience gave loud cheers and another standing ovation to this wonderful Chamber Ensemble. Traditionally, the “Radetsky March” is performed on New Year’s Day by the Vienna Philharmonic. Next concert at the Freeport Library will be October 29. Your seat will be waiting for you.
