WASHINGTON, IL -- The Heartland Festival Orchestra's final symphony of the season was named "A Romantic Finale," from romantic era music. And the entire evening, at Five Points Washington, was lovely.
Violin soloist Melissa White was charming and brilliant as she played Samuel Barber's 'Concerto for Violin and Orchestra,' lively, exciting and difficult.
Antonin Dvorak's 'Symphony No. 8 in G Major,' another difficult and exciting piece drew the second standing ovation of the evening, following the one for Melissa White.
The orchestra sounded fine, as usual. The printed program held much information about the music and the performers as well as the supporters of the orchestra. (Why can't the Peoria Civic Center Theater provide printed programs for its Broadway series?)
And there were no security guards searching the audience members as they arrived, and demanding transparent bags, as at the Peoria Civic Center.
The Heartland Festival Orchestra's line up of concerts for the coming season looks exciting, and can be found in the program and on its website.
-- Elaine Hopkins--