every second dripping off my fingertips: Encore

Thursday, April 10, 2008

The Conservatory Orchestra
Wang Ya-Hui, Music Director
Qian Zhou, Violin

Program
BARBER - Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
KORNGOLD - Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35
TCHAIKOVSKY - Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36

Qian Zhou, Head of Strings at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory, takes centrestage in Korngold’s lushly romantic Violin Concerto in D major, first written for and premiered by legendary violinist Jascha Heifetz in 1947. The orchestra will also perform Barber’s poetic Adagio for Strings and Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony.

What a concert it was... Ok it wasn't that fantastic but we did get to listen to some good music. There was the occasional irritating people in the audience (I'm sure Steph will testify to that) but it was overall a commendable performance from the Conservatory.The delivery of the first piece, the Adagio for Strings, was brilliant. Plenty of feeling, and Wang Ya-Hui was, as usual, full of energy. Well played.
For the Korngold, I have to say that it wasn't as good as it should have been. It was obvious that the piece was difficult to handle, not only for the Conservatory Orchestra, but also for soloist Qian Zhou. But it was a valiant attempt nonetheless.
Then came the Tchaikovsky. Wonderful piece this is. No. 4 in F minor. The first movement began well, with a brilliant Allegro vivo end. But the movement I was waiting for was the third movement. Pizzicato ostinato. As much as I was in sweet anticipation of it, it did not turn out as well as i had hoped. I think Ming Jie and I both agree that that movement was the most difficult. Getting pizzicatos together at such a tempo is nonsense. And the players suffered. Violins weren't together in the desks, and they also weren't together with the lower strings.
I have to say that the cello section was brilliant throughout the concert (yes this is a biased comment). It was the section which was the most together, even though some of them looked lost at times (sounds familiar huh?).

That was Wednesday. Today, Thursday, was Lee Suan Yew day. Yes and because the teachers failed to get high profile performers to come and entertain a difficult crowd such as the ACS audience, they decided to ask MRT ride (the Centrestage production) to perform again.

Yes.... We tamed the ACS crowd. In the words of JY, "we fed off their energy".

Brilliant. But then Asher told me later that our energy was low, so I don't know. Haha.

What a week... =P

Thank you once again to the following people.

Cast and crew of "An MRT Ride"
Mr Ferdinand Quek and Mr Brian Connor, for their wonderful advice (and castrating our play)
Zombies and Make-up artists

But special thanks once again to Mr Ferd Quek, because he was the one who made it happen, and who gave us another chance. And for doing our make-up. And for the brilliant stage directions. And for the dinner at Pizza Hut. Ok I'm done.

somewhere a clock is ticking:
9:09 PM