Dear Editor,
What a musical adventure I had Saturday night at the South
Valley Symphony’s program at Gavilan College Theatre.
I had the good fortune to grow up in the shadow of classical
music at home and at work. I play no instrument, I cannot carry a
tune even if it had a bucket handle on it, yet music plays a vital
role in my life.
Dear Editor,
What a musical adventure I had Saturday night at the South Valley Symphony’s program at Gavilan College Theatre.
I had the good fortune to grow up in the shadow of classical music at home and at work. I play no instrument, I cannot carry a tune even if it had a bucket handle on it, yet music plays a vital role in my life.
I have attended symphony concerts throughout the world: Concerts in London; Helsinki (Finland); Tokyo, Japan; New York City; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and San Francisco, so I know good music. I can truthfully say that Saturday’s concert was a gem of unsurpassed beauty.
We had two very talented local artists on the program. First there was Beverly Olivier-Blount, normally the concertmaster, but this night she was a soloist with her violin playing Vaughn William’s “The Lark Ascending” and by means of that violin, that lark ascended. In fact, it soared up, up. Had there not been a roof on the auditorium, it would have ascended to Heaven’s doorstep. She got a standing ovation from the enthusiastic and admiring crowd.
After intermission, we were treated to a second local artist, Maria Amirkhanian; born in Russia, trained in St. Petersburg, and residing here in Gilroy.
She played Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto Number 2 and played it flawlessly. Out from under the sounding board of a nine-foot Steinway concert piano came the most melodious notes and tones – evoking emotions of joy and gladness as never before.
I looked around the audience and noted a few too many empty seats. The concert should have been standing room only. I take my hat off to Al Navaroli and his crew; they too performed beautifully! Folks, the next concert is Dec. 18 at the Gavilan College – note it on your calendar!
J.G. McCormack, Gilroy
