Photo Credit: Eric Berlin
The musicians of the Albany Symphony spend a lot of time preparing for a performance. Their passion and love for what they do can be heard in their music and seen on their face. Photo Credit: Eric Berlin
Last weekend, the Albany Symphony returned to the stage to open the 2019.20 season at the majestic Palace Theatre in downtown Albany. The program featured a gallery of musical works, including Mussorgsky’s great Pictures at an Exhibition and Valerie Coleman’s Phenomenal Women.
David Alan Miller and the musicians arrived at the Palace Theatre on Thursday afternoon for 2 days of rehearsals and on each day they worked late into the night to prepare for the opening night concert. Did you know that Saturday’s performance featured 77 orchestral musicians? David Alan Miller, and the orchestra’s operations team were responsible for organizing and arranging the entire production. Bravo!
On Saturday night, before the performance, the Albany Symphony celebrated the hardworking and dedicated musicians of the orchestra with a final show of Music for the Eyes: Albany Symphony Musicians at Work.
The exhibit featured photographs by Principal Trumpet, Eric Berlin and was curated by Yva Momatiuk, John Eastcott, and Nicholas Argyros. The exhibit gave the listener a rare glimpse into the life and passion of a working Albany Symphony musician and the extensive collaboration between musicians, soloists, composers, and conductor that precedes each performance. Eric’s work also captured the Capital Region’s most majestic stages and performance spaces.
Remaining single edition prints and limited edition photo books are available for sale at the Box Office.
Kaweeda Adams, Albany School District Superintendent and Assemblywomen, Patricia Fahy perused the gallery and met with students and aspiring musicians from the Albany High School, My Brother’s Keeper Program.
Photo Credit: Gary Gold Photography
Photo Credit: Gary Gold Photography
The GRAMMY-nominated wind quintet, the Imani Winds, thrilled party-goers with an intimate performance of Valerie Coleman’s Tzigane and Startin Sumthin by Jeff Scott.
Photo Credit: Gary Gold Photography
“The Albany Symphony Orchestra launched its season with a typically ambitious and energetic program...”
Photo Credit: Gary Gold Photography
“Bernstein’s Symphonic Suite from “On the Waterfront” was the evocative opener. Raw and refined, tender and muscular, this is the kind of multihued Americana that the [Albany Symphony] does so well.”
Bernstein wrote the film score for “On the Waterfront” in 1954. The picturesque work began with a haunting horn solo by Nicole Caluori.
Photo Credit: Gary Gold Photography
The centerpiece of the evening was Imani Winds and Valerie Coleman’s musical portrait titled Phenomenal Women. Each movement payed tribute to a notable African-American woman.
Photo Credit: Gary Gold Photography
After intermission, former Vanguard Albany Symphony Co-President, Susan Jacobson presented Jerry Golub- Board Chair, Anna Kuwabara-Executive Director, and David Alan Miller- Music Director with a check for $73,000 from their signature fundraiser, the Vanguard Showhouse. Photo Credit: Gary Gold Photography
““Pictures” arrived with Technicolor force.”
Photo Credit: Gary Gold Photography
Ravel’s orchestration of Mussorgsky’s beloved Pictures at an Exhibition proved to be a fitting finale to an incredible opening night. Did you have a favorite piece on the program? Get social and share it on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using #ListenAdventurously.
Thank you to the following concert sponsors.
DID YOU MISS THE CONCERT? DO YOU WANT TO HEAR IT AGAIN?
Hear the performance on Sunday, November 3, 2019 on WMHT LIVE. Tune in at 6PM on-air at 89.1FM Albany, 88.7FM Poughkeepsie or listen online anywhere at WMHT.org/classical.