“People were comparing Shostakovich’s ‘Festive Overture’ to champagne practically before the ink was dry on the pages back in 1954,” writes Angela Lehman-Rios in Sunday’s (9/13) Richmond Times-Dispatch. “In other words, it’s perfect music for first voyages and grand openings. The Richmond Symphony Orchestra performed "Festive Overture" in the Carpenter Theatre last night as part of the concert celebrating the opening of Richmond CenterStage. The concert included short performances by all nine resident companies: Richmond Symphony, Richmond Jazz Society, African American Repertory Theatre, Virginia Opera, Barksdale Theatre/Theatre IV, SPARC, Elegba Folklore Society, Richmond Shakespeare and Richmond Ballet. … To cut down on stage changes, and because it accompanied six of the other eight performances, the symphony performed from the orchestra pit the whole time. This unfortunate but necessary decision was mitigated by the excellent camera work that projected video images of Associate Conductor Erin Freeman and the musicians as they performed. The energy-filled evening included the widest diversity of performance types you’re likely to see on one stage, ever.”
Posted September 18, 2009
