By Eileen Wingard
SAN DIEGO — The Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra’s recent concert, featuring Dvorak’s Symphony #8 in G Major, was one of their most satisfying performances in recent memory. Dvorak’s engaging melodies sang forth with warmth. The entire ensemble, under David Amos’ capable direction, seemed to feel and understand the music. With the woodwinds playing such a large part in the work’s success, the excellent performance may have been, to some degree, due to having the outstanding professional clarinetist, Robert Zelickman, substituting in the wind section.
In any case, the woodwinds were particularly outstanding, the cellos sounded full-bodied in their many passages and the concertmaster, Bryce Newall, did full justice to his solo. The trumpets rendered a spirited fanfare introduction to the concluding last movement, and the violins did well throughout.
Following intermission, TICO played the Scherzo Fantastique by Josef Suk, the son-in-law of Dvorak. It was a charming work, with off-kilter rhythms and lyrical melodies. This piece, also, was given a fine reading.
Concluding the program was a tepid reading of Tchaikowsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme, opus 33. The soloist, Joyce Geeting, a Los Angeles-based cellist, did not bring forth the passion required for this Russian masterpiece, although she played with accuracy and Amos followed her carefully with a satisfying accompaniment.
The final concerts of the season are June 4 and 6, featuring soloists Michael Matuno, flute and Tasha Smith Godinez, harp in Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp, and July 30, the annual Pops Concert. The performances will be at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 6660 Cowles Mountain Blvd. San Diego, CA 92119
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Wingard is a retired violinist with the San Diego Symphony and a freelance writer specializing in the arts. She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com