Here's something you might be interested in.
What does one write when a group is doing a good thing but they're not very good--at all?
That was my experience of The New City Sinfonia this last weekend.
I loved the group and their attitude. They were an amateur group and I've made it clear that I respect the love that amateurs embody.
The First Universalist Unitarian Church was a great venue. Garrison Keilor would have called it "Our Lady of the Eternal Whatever" but I found the space to be warm and welcoming.
The music on the program was solid and the audience was supportive.
The conductor directed our attention to the donations basket at the back of the hall. He let us know that the money went to buy scores for the orchestra and that The New City Sinfonia supports a charity each year. This year they are supporting Habit for Humanity.
I found all of these things to be charming and I was eager to hear the orchestra play.
Ya--not so much. I won't dwell on it but I'm confident each string player was playing a slightly different pitch which created an anemic/starved quality. The wheels fell off and sparks flew for both the brass and the woodwinds. It was a mess.
BUT I still enjoy the fact that this group exists and gives three concerts per year. I still respect the players and their commitment to being in an orchestra.
The audience gave them a standing ovation at the end of the concert. Who am I to say they did or didn't deserve it?
What does one write when a group is doing a good thing but they're not very good--at all?
That was my experience of The New City Sinfonia this last weekend.
I loved the group and their attitude. They were an amateur group and I've made it clear that I respect the love that amateurs embody.
The First Universalist Unitarian Church was a great venue. Garrison Keilor would have called it "Our Lady of the Eternal Whatever" but I found the space to be warm and welcoming.
The music on the program was solid and the audience was supportive.
The conductor directed our attention to the donations basket at the back of the hall. He let us know that the money went to buy scores for the orchestra and that The New City Sinfonia supports a charity each year. This year they are supporting Habit for Humanity.
I found all of these things to be charming and I was eager to hear the orchestra play.
Ya--not so much. I won't dwell on it but I'm confident each string player was playing a slightly different pitch which created an anemic/starved quality. The wheels fell off and sparks flew for both the brass and the woodwinds. It was a mess.
BUT I still enjoy the fact that this group exists and gives three concerts per year. I still respect the players and their commitment to being in an orchestra.
The audience gave them a standing ovation at the end of the concert. Who am I to say they did or didn't deserve it?