I love arriving at a WASO performance.
The orchestra are individually warming up. Every instrument is playing its own tune. The lights dim and silence ensures. The clarinet then plays an A. The orchestra leader, the number 1 violinist tunes and plays the same note. The violins tune to that note, followed by the base strings and wind instruments. Again, silence as the conductor comes out.
This time this was Asher Fisch. He is the Principal Conductor of WASO and has conducted around the world. He holds the orchestra, then they begin. Unlike the warm up, it is one entity.
They begin with Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet. Tchaikovsky was inspired by Shakespeare’s story of young love, that he composed this Fantasy Overture. It was first performed in 1870 in Russia. WASO first performed it in 1947. Today, it is performed in Winthrop Hall at UWA. Like many famous classical pieces, there were parts that are well known, thanks to TV and movies like James Bond Moonraker, Wayne’s World, South Park and even the Simpsons.
My favourite part is when the timpanist, playing the kettle drums pushes up his suit coat sleeves and really goes for it.
After a long ovation, the violins go backstage while a large grand piano is moved in. The Orchestra resettle and prize-winning, Australian-based pianist, Konstantin Shamray, comes out to perform Piano Concerto No. 1in D Flat, Op.10 by Sergei Prokofiev. After the well-deserved ovation, Shamray played a short melodic piece as a solo.
The main composition for the evening was Beethoven’s 7th , Symphony no.7 in A, Op.92 to be exact. Ludwig van Beethoven composed this in 1813, five years after his famous fifth symphony. Fun Fact: Part of this symphony was used during World War II in Australia to help rally up patriotic morale.
This event was sold out so the classical music fans like knowing the music. While knowing the compositions added to the enjoyment of the WASO performance, I also enjoyed stretching my musical knowledge with lesser-known pieces.