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The Oct. 10 performance by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra kicked off a three-part series of student receptions hosted by President Dan Weiss.
With the series, Weiss hopes to familiarize students with music ensembles such as Orpheus, and stress the connection between Williams Center for the Arts performances and campus life. According to students who attended, the series is reaching its goal.
Megan Zaroda ’07 (Easton, Pa.), a political communications major, says, “It was nice to have a more intimate meeting of administrators, faculty, and students in a non-academic setting. While much of the conversation revolved around Orpheus, I had several engaging conversations with others whom I had never met.”
Weiss invited students to gather in the Williams Center at 6 p.m. for brief introductions about the evening program – in this case, an all-Mozart program featuring two piano concertos with guest soloist Emanuel Ax. Students and attending faculty then joined the orchestra in the auditorium for an open rehearsal of the evening program.
“The evening was spectacular, and definitely a success,” says Ben Doremus ’07 (Hopkinton, Mass.), an electrical and computer engineering major. “I would absolutely come back to a similar event; the skills I learned [during the rehearsal] enhanced my listening abilities so I was able to get much more out of the music.”
The open rehearsal was followed by a light meal in the Wilson Room of Pfenning Alumni Center, with the concert following at 8 p.m. After the performance, there was time to visit with the players at a lobby reception.
“This was a fascinating opportunity for our students to look inside the creative process that an ensemble like Orpheus uses to prepare for its concerts,” says Ellis Finger, director of the Williams Center. “Through the commentary by oboist Matt Dine and the time they spent with Orpheus in their rehearsal mode they were able to observe so much about teamwork, the sharing of ideas and insights, and the collegial spirit involved in bringing Mozart’s music to life. We’re grateful to President Weiss for his support of this learning opportunity, and to the musicians of Orpheus for opening their studio practices to our students.”
Recognized internationally as one of the world’s great chamber orchestras, Orpheus takes a unique approach toward chamber music in that the ensemble works without a conductor. It is a self-governing organization, making the repertory and interpretive decisions ordinarily assumed by a conductor through a collaborative effort.
Other performances which are part of the student reception series will include Orpheus with Jeremy Denk: Brandenburg Redux Wednesday, Nov. 29, and Orpheus with Ian Bostridge: Serenades Sunday, Feb. 4.