By Eileen Wingard
SAN DIEGO — Patrick Henry High School’s new PHAME Auditorium was the setting for the first of the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra’s (TICO) recent pair of concerts, Sunday, November 4 and Tuesday, November 6. I heard the Tuesday evening performance at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, but I learned from others that the excellent acoustics of Patrick Henry High School’s PHAME Auditorium did much to enhance the sound of the orchestra and soloist.
Although the Cohen Social Hall of Tifereth Israel Synagogue provides an intimate setting for the concerts, the venue is designed for banquet settings rather than concert listening. However, there was much to enjoy at the TIS location.
For the first half of the program, TICO was expanded by members of Patrick Henry High School’s string orchestra, and this proved especially advantageous in the beautiful rendition of R. Vaughan-Williams’ English Folk Songs Suite, one of that composer’s most popular works. Although written originally for concert band, Vaughan-Williams’ student, Gordon Jacob, arranged it for full orchestra. Randy Brinton, conductor for two of the program’s selections, brought out wonderful nuances and produced precise, in-tune playing from the combined orchestras. Inner voices were distinct, especially in the lower strings and brass. In the second song, My Bonny Roy, the upper string intonation was pure and beautiful. Concertmaster Bryce Newall, handled the violin solo nicely.
The Rumanian Folk Dances by Bela Bartok, were more challenging, not quite achieving the rustic vitality and Hungarian passion required. The final two dances generated more excitement.
The opening Overture to The Magic Flute by Mozart, under the direction of David Amos, was characterized by fine dynamic contrasts. However, the rhythmic precision needed for this delicate work was not always present.
Following intermission, a charming youthful violinist, Lucas Stratmann, performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto, David Amos, conducting. A prize-winning Juilliard graduate, Stratmann shone in the second movement, performing with warmth and emotion. The last movement was also realized with rhythmic drive and technical mastery. Only the first movement, in its moments of icy magic, did not quite achieve that full effect. However, Stratmann is a talent with great promise and, hopefully, it is people like this young man who will engage the younger generation and attract them to the beauties of classical music.
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Wingard, a retired violinist with the San Diego Symphony, is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com