With a thundering strike on the drums from the timpanist of the
South Valley Symphony, the orchestra began its last concert of the
season during a Mother’s Day program in the San Juan Bautista
Mission Church last Sunday.
With a thundering strike on the drums from the timpanist of the South Valley Symphony, the orchestra began its last concert of the season during a Mother’s Day program in the San Juan Bautista Mission Church last Sunday. Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” caused audience members to jump in the mission pews as the drums rolled and the gong crashed. The triumphal entrance of the brass section rippled down the adobe walls filling the ears of the packed audience of more than 250 music lovers.
Moms and their children, grandmothers and their brood were treated to the full orchestral experience inside the Old Mission Sanctuary. The Fanfare was followed by the haunting beauty of Gounod’s Woodwind Concerto and Dvorák’s Violin Concerto, Op. 53 masterfully played by South Valley Symphony’s own concertmaster, Beverly Olivier-Blount on a modern Cremonese instrument.
Enjoying the concert in the mission was retired San Jose State humanities professor Charles Paul along with a Blount fan-base including Walker Blount, Hal and Ilse Bass, Milt Smith, Kevin and Diane McGinty, Susan Yanagihara, Frank Dykema, Leslie and Michael Lopes, Ken and Nancy McDonald, Ruth and Matt Sako, Cynthia and Bob Porter, and Mrs. Tracy Gouveia.
Father Greg Sandman, seated in the front row pew commented, “I was so close I could have been touched by one of the violin bows!” Old Mission San Juan Bautista has a rich history of music while in its distant past, Padre Esteban Tapis, brought his musical talents to the community helping the church gain a reputation as the “mission of music.” And what a mission of music it was on Sunday!
The second half of the program was saved exclusively for Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. For many in the audience, it was the first time they had heard the entire piece beyond its famous opening notes.
Four movements and 45 minutes later the last down bow was struck and the concert-goers jumped to their feet in a standing ovation.
Streaming into the mission gardens to attend the after-concert reception, the audience was greeted by the local parlor of the Native Daughters of the Golden West.
Past grand president, Sharon Johnston and current grand president, CeCe Johnston worked tirelessly with Native Daughters Elizabeth Silverrberg, Diane Alves, Georgana Gularte, Roberta Paul, Lolita Pinuela, Jennifer Schultz and Elza Paul to host the wine and cheese reception.
San Benito County Wineries, Enz Winery, DeRose Winery and Summerayne Winery generously poured their local vintages while accordion player, Big Lou, squeezed danceable French cabaret music from her lovely circa 1930’s Italian instrument. Anthony Quartuccio, South Valley Symphony director and conductor, an accomplished accordion instrumentalist himself, gave reception guests a treat by borrowing Big Lou’s Italian beauty and playing a lovely tune.
My prediction: the accordion is the new cool thing. Check out Big Lou and her love of all things accordion at www.accordionprincess.com.
By the way, Big Lou doubles as a USGS geologist during the week and playing so near to the Grand Daddy of faultlines was also cool!
In case you want to check out the wines made along the faultline and limestone deposits this weekend, the San Benito County Wineries are having their 5th annual Passport Weekend May 19 and 20.
Tickets are $30 and are available for purchase online at www.sbcwinegrowers.org.
If you want to start the weekend early the Inn at Tres Pinos is hosting a Passport Weekend Gala Dinner Friday, May 18. Call the Inn at (831) 628-3320 for further details. See you there and ciao for now.
