DCist Jeff Beam contributed to this post.
Drew McManus, who writes about the orchestra business at the ArtsJournal blog Adaptistration, has dubbed April Take a Friend to the Orchestra month. For the second year now, Drew has lined up names in the classical music world to write pieces on how ordinary people who love classical music can invite a friend who does not regularly go to hear live music to a concert. This year’s articles include entries from the Washington area by Kim Pensinger Witman, artistic director of Wolf Trap Opera, and Leonard Slatkin, music director of the National Symphony Orchestra. We decided to take Drew’s challenge, so DCist’s own Jeff Beam, who writes on the Nationals as well as urban planning and other city issues, came with me Friday night for a cultural ride-along.
As part of its current American tour, the Australian Chamber Orchestra stopped by the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center Friday night. The varied program of enjoyable music seemed like a good option for someone without much concert experience. Richard Tognetti, the group’s lead violinist and artistic director, led the sort of energetic, polished, unified performance that has made their name. Traversing music in a range of styles, the ACO exploited the full range of dynamic contrasts and textures. No element was out of place, and yet the level of precision did not lead to a feeling of coldness or emotional distance.
What impression did it leave on Jeff?
Photo of the Australian Chamber Orchestra by Stephen Oxenbury
