By Eileen Wingard
SAN DIEGO — A full house in the Cohen Social Hall of Tifereth Israel Synagogue greeted the matinee Pops Concert by the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra (TICO) on Sunday, July 17. The program of short works featured several wonderful highlights. It began and ended with two sprightly Sousa marches, the unfamiliar Free Lance March at the opening, and the popular Stars and Stripes Forever at the conclusion, the latter with piccolos and horns taking turns standing up during the stirring middle section, while the audience clapped in rhythm.
Closing the first half of the program, was Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. Ralph Barnes, who regularly introduces the orchestra, served as the narrator. With his charming British accent, Barnes delivered the narration with clear articulation and dramatic flair. All the soloists, the oboe as the duck, the flute as the bird, the clarinet as the cat, the bassoon as the wolf, the horns as the hunters and the violins as Peter, distinguished themselves in this entertaining, educational piece, designed for young listeners.
After intermission, the orchestra played John Williams’ Star Wars Medley before the program’s featured soloist, 16-year-old violinist, Ilana Hirschfeld performed a lovely rendition of Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. Although the Cohen Social Hall is not flattering, acoustically, to the violin, the orchestra’s careful calibration of volume allowed the soloist’s every note to be heard. The gifted violinist played expressively, with technical security. She is currently a student of Hernan Constantino and is serving, this summer, as concertmaster of the San Diego Youth Symphony’s International Orchestra.
Another highlight of the afternoon was the playing of Night in Mexico from “Airborne Suite” by the celebrated American composer, Paul Creston. This appealing piece, with its catchy rhythms and Mexican dance melodies, was conducted by Lee Amos, the wife of David Amos. Lee, a violinist who played in the San Diego Symphony under Bernard Earl Murray and served a number of years as TICO’s concertmaster, is a seasoned musician, who led the orchestra with precision. Conductor David Amos gave his wife this honor in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary that day.
In addition, Tim and Lorraine Creston, son and daughter-in-law of the late Paul Creston, were visiting from Tucson, Arizona and were in the audience.
This concert provided a festive conclusion to TICO’s 2015-16 season.
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Wingard is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com. Comments intended for publication in the space below MUST be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the United States.)