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River Concert Series: A preview of the next six weeks
River series starts by celebrating Maryland's birthday
Friday, June 26, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo During the opening night of the River Concert series, Jeffrey Silberschlag, left, and guest trumpeter John Wallace joined the Chesapeake Orchestra and an array of musicians to perform music of the 1600s in celebration of Maryland's 375th birthday.
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Taking a break during the opening night of the River Concert Series, Andrew Balio, the principal trumpeter for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, likened the event to a "mini-Tanglewood," a renowned classical music festival in western Massachusetts. "It's a real treasure," Balio said, "a Renaissance for this part of the state."
Last year, the River Concert Series celebrated its 10 anniversary. This year, though, the classic music event is participating in St. Mary's County's efforts to recognize Maryland's 375th birthday, and Balio was one of several guest musicians invited to the event by Jeffrey Silberschlag, the organizer of the River Concert Series and conductor of the Chesapeake Orchestra. (The opening weekend, it should be noted, included an additional Saturday concert with fireworks.)
The River Concert Series has a few things going for it. One: It is free. Two: You can bring in coolers packed with food and drink. Three: It is free.
There is also the music: Silberschlag not only guides the Chesapeake Orchestra, which functions like a house band, but convinces world-class talent to travel to what he sometimes calls "the South of Maryland." Rather than being forced to listen, River Concert Series attendees have the option of sitting among the "serious listeners" (near the stage) or the "serious socializers" (in the back of the Townhouse Green). Food vendors line an adjacent roadway.
Thousands attend each event, filling the Townhouse Green with a sea of fold-up chairs. Usually the sky is dark before the final number: As the listeners observe in silence, the social ones begin to make music of their own — conversation that flows gently over the listeners' heads and hangs in the air.
Other guests were Scottish soprano Marie Claire Breen and trumpeter John Wallace.
Maryland composer N. Lincoln-DeCusatis debuted "Terrae Mariae: A Creation Story," a melodic symphony with five narrators, including Maryland Dels. John L. Bohanan Jr. (D-St. Mary's) and Anthony J. O'Donnell (R-Calvert, St. Mary's), that told the story of Maryland.
After that, the orchestra and guests performed two parts of A. Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 "New World."
The concert began to rise to the level Silberschlag aspired to — "circus maximus" — as Gov. Martin O'Malley took the stage with his seven-piece Celtic rock band, O'Malley's March, and performed three original numbers.
It began with a wall of sound, as the band and orchestra played simultaneously. Later it began to even out, as if they had practiced, with O'Malley's March striking the early notes and the orchestra filling in behind them.
After three songs, the governor/frontman even managed to squeeze in an extra fiddle tune. It was pretty clear that he was enjoying what has become a rare opportunity to address an audience with song rather than politics.
But something else was obvious: If O'Malley March had been granted a couple extra hours, the governor surely would have obliged.
On the schedule
June 26: Uncommon Men —
Selections include Copland's Symphony No. 3 "Fanfare for the Common Man," Beethoven's Symphony No. 4, and Hayden's Flute Concerto in D major with world-renowned flutist Giuseppe Nova.
July 3: It's a '50's Fourth — Acclaimed jazz vocalist Hilary Kole, voice of New York City's premiere jazz club, Birdland, will perform '50's classics with the Chesapeake Orchestra. The Independence Day celebration will also include Sousa's "Marches," Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" and fireworks.
July 10: An Evening of
Rodgers and Hammerstein — Guest conductor Larry Vote is joined by Diane Atherton (soprano), Olivia Vote (mezzo soprano), Steven Cramer (tenor) and Robert McDonald (baritone) for a performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein's music. Among others, songs from "The King and I," "Oklahoma," "The Sound of Music" and "Carousel" will be performed.
July 17: The Young and the Gifted —
Featured principal players of the Maryland Youth Symphony and St. Mary's County Arts Council soloists, Zach Silberschlag and Katherine Heilman, perform with the Chesapeake Orchestra.
July 24: The Real Deal — Selections include Rossini's "La gazza ladra Overture," Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 with pianist Maurizio Moretti and Strauss' "Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's Life)."
July 31: The Big Finish — The grand finale features Bernstein's "Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs" and "West Side Story: Symphonic Dances." Guest clarinetist Giampiero Sobrino will perform Artie Shaw's Concerto for
Clarinet and guest pianist Brian Ganz will perform Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." Both pieces will be performed with the Chesapeake Orchestra.
If you go
The River Concert Series continues at 7 p.m. Fridays through July 31. The free concerts are held at St. Mary's College in St. Mary's City, and the college's Townhouse Green opens at 5 p.m. Bring a chair and blanket; picnic baskets and coolers are allowed. Go to www.riverconcertseries.com for more information about the following events: River Series: At the Movies — Movies followed by musical performances will be held in Cole Cinema at St. Mary's College at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through July 22. River Series: Up Close — Trumpeter Michael Adams and trombonist Patrick Adams will perform at 3 p.m. July 12 in Auerbach Auditorum at St. Mary's College.
