MIA ABULAF/SAGAMORE STAFF

The first Camerata-Orchestra concert of the year took place on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Roberts-Dubbs Auditorium. As the lights dimmed, the orchestra crew prepared for playing on the stage. They first performed an exciting but short excerpt of a piece while Chorus Director Michael Driscoll walked on to the stage. He explained that Orchestra Director Jorge Soto couldn’t conduct because he was on tour, and then the focus shifted to the musicians.

Starting with the piece “Andante Festivo” composed by Jean Sibelius, the performance’s tone was lighthearted, and the piece was played with great finesse. The second piece was “Serenade for Strings” by the Czech composer Antonín Dvořák, a rich piece which was more upbeat. The harmonious build up of ear-catching sounds led to an effective climax. When the last chords were played, the audience broke into a loud cheer.

Once the orchestra performers finished, a new set of performers, Camerata Choir members in purple scarves and bow-ties, took their places. Their opening song started out quiet, as if it was meant to sound like a loud whisper. It then became overpowering and strong as the singers sang the words, “I want to meet my mother; I’m going to live with God.” It was a well balanced mixture of different scales of voices.

MIA ABULAF/SAGAMORE STAFF

When the song ended, Driscoll told the audience some background information about the next two pieces. Thomas Morley, an English composer, wrote the piece “Fyer, Fyer!” while Robert Pearsall, an attorney, composed the third piece, which was “Lay a Garland.” Driscoll said that though the two composers had lived nearly 250 years apart from each other, they still managed to influence one another.

“Fyer, Fyer!” was a beautifully performed, albeit a little repetitive, piece. The piece created an echo with lyrics. On the other hand “Lay a Garland” was a piece written on the minor key, along with the lyrics about burying a woman, therefore it was sung with great sorrow and despair.

The next song was “Hallelujah! I Love Her So” by Ray Charles. The performers started snapping, setting the cheerful and energetic tone of  the song. Camerata members took turns singing various parts as junior Amir Siraj accompanied them on the piano.

For the last performance of the night, the orchestra and camerata joined together on stage to perform the piece “Domine Ad Adjuvandum Me Festina” by Giovanni Battista Martini, which included solos from seniors Mellissa Picker, Jerilyn McLean and Arthur Chen, and juniors Moe Wakai and Louis Sokolow.

As the night came to an end, the audience was unquestionably satisfied, and it was obvious that both performances were well prepared for and the were performers extremely talented.[/fusion_text]