NBSO Goes Out With Flare

The final New Bedford Symphony concert of the 2014-15 season was a bell-ringer! First up was Berlioz' Roman Carnival Overture, a fast-paced orchestral piece featuring brass and full percussion. Flawlessly paced and played, it got the audience "up" for the rest of the evening. This was followed by Edward Elgar's deeply moving Cello Concerto, a work that became the "signature piece" of famed cellist Jacqueline du Pre. The concerto was composed just after WW I, and the tragic loss of lives in that conflict clearly influenced Elgar's composition. The magic was briefly interrupted by a broken string, but the professionalism of soloist and orchestra allowed them to pick up and finish while returning the audience to intense contemplation. The solist, Jesus Castro-Balbi, was flawless in his interpretation. After intermission came Borodin's In the Steppes of Central Asia, with its evocation of endless open spaces and horsemen, a beautiful and well-known classic work. Again the orchestra played to perfection. The final work was The Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi. This saw the return of a full, and I mean full, orchestra. We had multiple percussionists on stage, a brass section playing off stage and Paul Cienniwa on the organ. The work also allowed several of the woodwind players to show off their talents. The rousing finish left the audience breathless and on their feet. I look forward the next, centennial season with great anticipation.