WASHINGTON, IL -- The Heartland Festival Orchestra opened its fifth season on Sept. 7 with a lovely concert focused on Mozart.
Two extraordinary young soloists, Kimberly McCoul Risinger and Molly McKenie Madden performed Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp. Then the orchestra played his Symphony No. 41 in C Major, the Jupiter Symphony.
Both pieces were standouts, and received standing ovations. Watching Madden play her georgeous golden harp was an extra treat.
The venue, Five Points in Washington, is nice and in many ways more convenient than the Peoria Civic Center. But -- on a hot night, the airconditioning left a little to be desired until it finally kicked in. The musicians ignored the heat but looked hot, and artistic director/conductor David Commanday even joked about the temperature on stage.
The building was filled with meetings, which apparently stressed not only the airconditioning but the parking. The parking lot is so poorly designed that exiting it took way too long.
Still it was a fine concert, worth the small hassles, much more interesting and memorable than its major competition, football on TV.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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