The Great Falls Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Derek Maseloff, performed brilliantly on Sunday, Feb. 4. Northern Virginia, take note that this young orchestra and its music director, Derek Maseloff, are cast in the solid mold of classical music's finest symphonic orchestras. They have arrived.
I attended as a Sunday afternoon whim and left as a passionate supporter. The program opened with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw's "Entr'acte." From the downbeat, Maestro Maseloff had me sitting up straight and mesmerized by the pritzing, prancing, and utterly delightful sounds he lifted from his top-notch instrumentalists, many of whom had graduated from the University of Maryland and had received instruction or coaching from members of the National Symphony Orchestra.
Catherine Clarke Nardolillo, soprano, followed, filling Mahler's Rückert-Lieder with smooth, dark luster. Then came Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 5 in D minor, the Reformation Symphony. In my front-row seat, just feet from the players, I watched Maestro's baton and his articulating arms, hands, head, and torso transform the interior of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Great Falls into pure, radiant sound.
In a pre-concert presentation, Maestro Maseloff brought in soprano Melissa Mino to perform works by the wives of Mahler and Mendelssohn, Alma Mahler and Fanny Mendelssohn. Mino was marvelous, as well. Her pure, agile voice was yet another delight of the afternoon.
Upcoming Event April 16: Join the Great Falls Philharmonic String Quartet at its intimate venue, Christ The King Lutheran - Great Falls, VA, for an enchanting evening featuring a three-course meal with wine included and a performance of highlights from the French repertoire. See https://www.gfphil.org/upcoming for the menu. The dinner is a fundraiser to support upcoming programming, including the Children’s Concert and Honey Harvest Festival Concert. Tickets are $225. The meal value is $160; ticket amounts above $160 are a donation to the Great Falls Philharmonic.
By Kathryn Tidyman of Reston
via Facebook; the post is lightly edited.