WASHINGTON, IL -- The creativity of the Heartland Festival Orchestra seems limitless.
In it's final concert of the season, the orchestra presented an eclectic program that included several dogs, art and ballet, along with fine music.
The canines were therapy dogs representing the charity partner of the evening, the Peoria Humane Society. They ranged from a 195-pound English mastiff to a lovely white poodle and smaller dogs, all well behaved while they were on stage.
Then came an artistic treat, the georgeous photochoreography of Doug and Eileen Leunig, on the big screen as the orchestra played Erik Satie's Gymnopedies, Nos. 1 & 2. These are lovely landscape photos, altered artistically by light.
Next a Peoria Ballet Ensemble of Melissa Becraft, Lark Commanday, Alyssa Golden and Allexe Slevin danced to Igor Stravinsky's Puicinella Suite. The choreography by Servy Gallado was created for the concert.
This was beautifully done by these skilled dancers in colorful costumes, and masks at times. What a treat!
Two other orchestral pieces, Richard Wagner's Siegfried Idyll and Johannes Brahams' Serenade No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11, completed the evening. Lovely.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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