March 2008

The building's shaking and we're happy

March 17, 2008 08:14

It’s been a while… life stuff and viola practice have kept me away. The SCSO concert yesterday at Spivey Hall marked my orchestral debut with my viola. It was an awesome concert and the viola section shone in several sections. I was pleased to be a part and welcomed the many compliments from fellow orchestra members with a huge smile. The program featured music for organ and orchestra. We played the third movement from Copland’s Symphony for Organ and Orchestra. It begins with 20+ measures of viola soli. I was so nervous in rehearsal but managed to get in the zone for yesterday’s performance and the sound of our section was phenomenal. This is not your typical Copland – it’s very dissonant and tough to hear. I felt accomplished when all was done. We also played the Poulenc Concerto for Organ with String Orchestra and Timpani as well as the Saint-Saens Symphony No.3 in C Minor, Op. 78. The Saint-Saens was my favorite.

"When the organ's being played at Spivey Hall, everyone here knows it. The three-manual, 77-rank, 4,413-pipe Albert Schweitzer Memorial Organ, built by Fratelli Ruffatti of Padua, Italy, sets the whole building shaking."

The organ at Spivey is reportedly the best in the nation and the hall itself a delight to perform in. I always love reading the comments from the artists who have performed at Spivey. Their headshots and comments are posted in a long hallway backstage. All mention what a fantastic venue Spivey is and their love of performing there.