A Wonderful Evening

Posted Aug 18, 2008 at 10:42 AM in General, Classical

I attended the final classical show last night with pianist Jon Kimura Parker. I have to admit the last time I went to a classical concert was when my grandmother made me attend with her when I was in middle school. I have been missing out! I now kick myself for not attending all of the classical concerts this year.

The talent level of the Britt Orchestra blew my socks off. These musicians come from all over the country to play at Britt for three weeks. It is pretty amazing that these musicians come here, stay with host families all over the Rogue Valley and share with us their musical talent for three weeks in the summer.

But I am reminded that this is how Britt Festivals begun. Classical music under the stars was the vision of founders John Trudeau and Sam McKinney. When you attend a classical concert at the Britt Pavilion, you get a sense that this is what is supposed to be performed, what the hillside was destined for. It feels right.

My favorite part of the evening was when the orchestra and soloist Jon Kimura Parker played Gershwin’s Concerto in F Major for Piano and Orchestra. The sultry, floating Charleston rhythm and the back and forth between trumpet and piano was fun and exciting to listen to.

The orchestra closed the evening with Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3. The playing of Fanfare for the Common Man gave me chills up and down my spine. When they stood to take their final bow, I didn’t want it to be over.

It was very nice to attend a Britt concert that the audience was very aware of concert etiquette. Except for the couple beside me playing gin rummy the entire performance and shuffling their playing cards every five minutes, the audience didn’t make a peep.

Overall, it was a wonderful evening. The moon was full and peeking over the top of the Britt pavilion. The crickets were out and there was a soft breeze on the back of my neck that kept me cool and feeling relaxed. I can’t wait to welcome the Britt Orchestra back next season. Next season, I will be first in line for tickets to every one of their performances.

This post was written by Krissy Rowan, Marketing Assistant

Share:

« Back to all blog posts