On Saturday evening, Feb. 20, I took a trip down memory lane. As the pre-concert chatter hushed with the dimming of the lights, we sat in anticipation of the Stratford Symphony Orchestra's five-star opera gala. And five-star it was!
Drawing on local operatic talent Catherine Gardner, Eliza Johnson, and Mark Gardner, and renowned tenor Darryl Edwards, the head of Voice Studies at University of Toronto, we were treated to excellent renditions of many favorite areas and duets, with a little touch of acting thrown in for good measure. The Stratford Concert Choir brushed up their Italian to take on the role of the chorus.
But the star of the show? That had to be the orchestra itself, not only accompanying the singers, but also bringing to life many favorite selections. It is hard to believe this ensemble is only five years old. Every time they perform they seem to improve, although from one concert to the next it is hard to imagine that they could get any better!
After intermission on Saturday night, one of the board members spoke briefly about the fact that an orchestra has to gain a reputation before they are eligible to apply for grants. Our symphony is reaching that stage of maturity, but is presently in need of some financial assistance from the community in order to get through this year successfully. He felt that if they succeed this season, they should be able to get the grants they need to continue long into the future.
“It takes a village” he quoted. It takes a village to grow a child. It will take a city, our city, to push this wonderful artistic venture past its infancy towards its full potential. At intermission I noticed two young girls dressed up in their best clothes, enjoying the atmosphere of the concert hall. It brought back memories of attending the Community Concert Series as a child, and of the early days of the theatre when the festival stage was graced every Sunday afternoon with world class musicians and a summer orchestra-in-residence who brought the classics to life.
I was young then, but remember those concerts vividly. With the birth of this symphony, we are on the path to having readily available cultural experiences for our young citizens once again.
Let's not let this opportunity slip through out fingers.
Helen Harrison
Stratford
