RENO PHILHARMONIC DAY AND A WORLD-PREMIERE

Sunday, March 17, 2013 was Reno Philharmonic Day in the State of Nevada, as declared by Governor Brian Sandoval.  The Reno Philharmonic presented Classix Five, a sold-out concert including a world-premiere.

Chesapeake: Summer of 1814 was composed by Michael Gandolfi as an exclusive commission for the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus. It pays tribute to “The Star-Spangled Banner.”  The 200^th anniversary of our National Anthem will be celebrated in 2014.

As explained in the program notes, written by Dana Bonstrom, “Chesapeake: Summer of 1814 is a meditation on the importance of music in the lives and endeavors of our forebears (and their British cousins) in the early years of the nineteenth century. The work is predicated almost exclusively on contemporary accounts of the music that was sung and played in the course of the prosecution of the War of 1812.”

The Classix Five concert took place at Downtown Reno’s Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St.  

Pioneer Center in Downtown Reno

The Chesapeake: Summer of 1814 segment featured visual direction and design by artist Anne Patterson.

My husband and I missed much of that, due to being seated at the very front of the auditorium, directly in front of the cello and bass violin players.  

We had thought our seats were in the back of the main floor.  Our close-up view was interesting, to a certain extent —  we could very clearly see music director Laura Jackson, who is extremely animated while conducting.  And the string players were obviously passionate about the music.

In the future, though, we’d like to sit farther back, to see the rest of the orchestra, the chorus and the visual effects, as well.

"The House" at the Pioneer Center

NOTE: Photos inside the Pioneer Center were taken before the concert began.  Photography and videography are not permitted during performances.

Also on yesterday's Reno Phil program was William Schuman's Casey At the Bat, with outstanding solos by choral director/soprano Jennifer Tibben and baritone Craig Verm.

For us, the highlight of the concert was Manuel de Falla’s Scenes and Dances from The Three-Cornered Hat, a very complex piece with a Spanish flair.

Prior to Classix performances by the Reno Phil, Laura Jackson leads a lecture/discussion which is free for all ticket holders.  This is a nice feature for music students or anyone who wants to learn more about the composers and the stories or events which inspired the music.

The Reno Phil also sponsors several youth programs to supplement and encourage music participation throughout Washoe County School District in Northern Nevada.

Another performance of the Reno Phil's Classix Five program is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at the Pioneer Center.

For more information about the Reno Philharmonic and its upcoming events, call the Pioneer Center Box Office at (775) 686-6600 or visit http://www.renophil.com/ .