WASHINGTON, IL -- The Heartland Festival Orchestra opened its 11th season with three great orchestral pieces and a world class violinist, on September 21 at the Three Points auditorium. The combination fit together nicely.
Rpssini's La Cenerentola Overture opened the concert, a lovely lyrical piece, followed by the famous First Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 26 by Max Bruch. Well known violin soloist Stefan Milenkovich presented a brilliant performance.
The standing ovation for the orchestra and soloist was justly deserved.
Then came the Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73, another famous piece. "Playing Brahms is a joy," Artistic Director/Conductor David Commanday told the audience in a brief talk about the piece.
Brahms composed this symphony in three months, at a country house where he stayed to enjoy nature, Commanday said.
The orchestra played this complicated and beautiful piece well, with its rich sound filling the auditorium. Live music will always best recordings.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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