2008 Woodie Awards
Fine Arts Festival honors Concerto, Aria winners
By: Brittany Whitlow
Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: LifeStyle
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Standing on the front of the stage of the new Community Music School Concert Hall in a bright, cherry-colored dress, senior Tova Braitberg stood out from the orchestra members decked out in black behind her during their performance of Béla Bartók's "Violin Concerto No. 2."
Braitberg, a music major, was a violin soloist April 22 during the Webster University Symphony Orchestra's Fine Arts Festival Concert "Violin Concerto No. 2" earned her a standing ovation.
"It went the best it's ever gone, better than any of the rehearsals," Braitberg said. "The orchestra and Dr. Larson (the conductor) did a wonderful job."
Sophomore music major Michael Colon, one of three percussionists in the orchestra, said "Violin Concert No. 2" was his favorite piece from the concert.
"The young lady that's playing in it is just fantastic, and Bartók is one of my favorite composers," he said.
Allen Larson, music director and conductor of the Webster University Symphony Orchestra, decided to continue a theme of the orchestra's Feb. 18 concert, which included "Four Sea Interludes" from Benjamin Britten's opera "Peter Grimes." He opened the concert with the sea-themed "Hibrides Overture, Op. 26" by Felix Mendelssohn and "Flying Dutchman Overture" by Richard Wagner.
"Plus, it's real loud and a lot of fun," Larson said.
The Fine Arts Festival Concert featured the winners of the Webster Concerto and Aria Competitions, two annual competitions whose winners perform with the Webster University Symphony Orchestra in its final concert. Braitberg was the concerto winner, while senior vocal performance major Nicole Orr was the Aria winner.
"We always produce this concert to show off the concerto and Aria winners," Larson said. "We take the winners of our competitions, and then we organize the music around it."
Orr, a soprano, performed Eric Korngold's "Marietta's Lied" from "Die Tote Stadt," as well as Giacomo Puccini's "Un bel di" from "Madam Butterfly."
Braitberg, a music major, was a violin soloist April 22 during the Webster University Symphony Orchestra's Fine Arts Festival Concert "Violin Concerto No. 2" earned her a standing ovation.
"It went the best it's ever gone, better than any of the rehearsals," Braitberg said. "The orchestra and Dr. Larson (the conductor) did a wonderful job."
Sophomore music major Michael Colon, one of three percussionists in the orchestra, said "Violin Concert No. 2" was his favorite piece from the concert.
"The young lady that's playing in it is just fantastic, and Bartók is one of my favorite composers," he said.
Allen Larson, music director and conductor of the Webster University Symphony Orchestra, decided to continue a theme of the orchestra's Feb. 18 concert, which included "Four Sea Interludes" from Benjamin Britten's opera "Peter Grimes." He opened the concert with the sea-themed "Hibrides Overture, Op. 26" by Felix Mendelssohn and "Flying Dutchman Overture" by Richard Wagner.
"Plus, it's real loud and a lot of fun," Larson said.
The Fine Arts Festival Concert featured the winners of the Webster Concerto and Aria Competitions, two annual competitions whose winners perform with the Webster University Symphony Orchestra in its final concert. Braitberg was the concerto winner, while senior vocal performance major Nicole Orr was the Aria winner.
"We always produce this concert to show off the concerto and Aria winners," Larson said. "We take the winners of our competitions, and then we organize the music around it."
Orr, a soprano, performed Eric Korngold's "Marietta's Lied" from "Die Tote Stadt," as well as Giacomo Puccini's "Un bel di" from "Madam Butterfly."
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