In Thursday’s (5/10) Edmonton Journal (Alberta, Canada), Elizabeth Withey writes, “Puffing a cigarillo outside the Hilton in New York City, violinist Richard Caldwell basked in the afterglow of musical triumph. ‘It gives you the willies,’ the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra player said of his experience walking onstage at Carnegie Hall. ‘You feel like this is the World Series.’ The ESO made its debut in the famous concert venue Tuesday night as part of the 2012 Spring for Music festival, which celebrates the best in unusual classical music programming. For many, perhaps all, of the orchestra’s musicians, as well as conductor Bill Eddins, the night has been etched into their memory as a career highlight. … ‘It was a dream come true,’ said fan Shirley Forbes. ‘Because you knew their excitement. It was marvellous to be in that beautiful building and know: that is our symphony.’ … Many prominent Edmontonians were among the hometown contingent, including Mayor Stephen Mandel, former senator Tommy Banks and MP Rona Ambrose. ‘It was really a thrill,’ Ambrose said Wednesday. ‘And there was so much pride in the room.’ Ambrose paid her own way to New York to attend. ‘So many Edmontonians paid out of pocket and I wanted to show equal support.’ ”
Posted May 10, 2012
