Last Friday, the Chamber Orchestra of the Paul Mellon Arts Center held a concert called “A Night in Venice.” The PMAC Chamber Orchestra consists mostly of professional string players, the majority of whom are faculty members involved with instrumental music at Choate. An interesting addition to the orchestra was the harpsichord, played by Choate’s music director, Mr. Ralph Valentine.
All of the pieces performed were composed by Italian maestro Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741). Mr. Phil Ventre, the conductor of the Choate Rosemary Hall Chamber Orchestra and the PMAC Chamber Orchestra, said, “The Italians brought in many important aspects, such as having sheet music or different parts in one piece, into music.” The first piece was a cello duet, “Concerto per Due Violoncello in G Minor,” performed by solo cellists Patricia A. Smith and Mariusz Skula with the PMAC Chamber Orchestra. Both cellists perform with orchestras and give music lessons in the greater New Haven area.
After the cello piece, violinists Jeanine Wynton and Mark Rike led the orchestra as soloists in Vivaldi’s most famous work, “The Four Seasons.” Before each chapter, narrators Michael Rinaldi and Sharon Delvecchio ’09 recited poems about each season in Italian, then English. The first movement, Spring (La Primavera) and Summer ( L’Estate), was played by Jeanine Wynton, a master violinist who started playing the instrument at the age of three. Light melodies, reminiscent of images of trees murmuring on the meadows with nymphs and shepherds dancing, comprised the spring section. The summer section evoked images of vivid colors, inflamed sun, and thunder and lightening. Autumn (L’Autunno) and Winter (L’Inverno) were performed by Mark Rike, another accomplished violinist who has traveled around the world. Autumn was about celebration of harvest, with the fresh autumn air welcoming sweet slumber. Sharp melodies formed the winter section, reminding the audience of frozen snows and days passed by a warm fireside.
Not only was Vivaldi’s music fascinating, but the musicians’ performances were exquisite. Katie Kilkenny ’10, said “I thought the concert was excellent—I had no idea that the Choate teachers were so talented! The music was gorgeous, and the group played it flawlessly. It really showed how lucky we Choate students are to have such great music teachers. I also thought it was really cool that Mr. Rinaldi recited the original Italian poems that accompanied the music—it added wonderfully to the whole "Night in Venice" theme. Afterwards, one of my friends said that they played the ‘Four Seasons’ better during the concert than the London Symphony did on his iPod!”
This concert dedicated to Italian music and Vivaldi kept the audiences entertained and awed. The PMAC Chamber Orchestra plans to give other concerts throughout the year.
Solo cellists Patricia A. Smith and Mariusz Skula performed the piece “Concerto per Due Violoncello in G Minor” at the PMAC Orchestra concert “A Night in Venice” last Friday, January, 11.PHOTO/Michael Tsai ’10
