A Night at the Movies

We had a quiet day today. The weather was mild, and we took our morning walk along the levee.

This evening we decided to go to the VSO concert, A Night at the Movies, since we had missed the open rehearsal last night. This time around we found lots of cars and people, plenty of bustle and excitement. We got seats in the back left of the auditorium, but the acoustics are fine, and we enjoyed the concert. It brought back memories of times past, with great theme songs by John Williams, Henry Mancini, and others, including

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Schindler's List

Star Wars

007

Mission Impossible

Pink Panther

Sound of Music

and more!

We very much enjoyed the event. Most of our music is mp3's played on computer speakers, so a live symphony orchestra was a real treat. The maestro, Peter Dabrowski, is a real showman in addition to being a great conductor.

We got our mail today. As usual, 80% went straight to the recycle bin. We try hard to avoid paper, but it's not easy.

From the VSO website:

Peter Dabrowski

Music Director and Conductor

“A true concert leaves the audience and musicians on the edge of their chairs”, says Peter Dabrowski, conductor, who in such a way leads his concerts. His interpretations, imbued with great expression, provoke, intrigue and excite, creating much emotion throughout the audience. Full of magnetism, charisma, and love for music, Peter Dabrowski is a conductor devoted to his art. Described by critics as exceptionally talented, his artistic personality wins over both audiences and musicians alike.
Great partnership with the soloist and orchestral musicians characterize Dabrowski’s artistic work. Musicians under his baton are creative, involved and disciplined. As a conductor he is able to convey his rich and colorful musical interpretations with authority and scholarship. The final interpretations are not only the result of rehearsals, but are also due to the tremendous level of energy and concentration exerted during the concert. Dabrowski unifies the intensity and many talents of the musicians into one orchestral voice.
Musicians enjoy making music with Dabrowski. His passion and musical sensitivity empowers the orchestra. His goal is to create an atmosphere within the orchestra in which each musician feels like an artist. “I present attractive programs not only for the audiences, but, also for the musicians,” says the conductor, for whom the role of concert programming is very important.
Dabrowski is the Music Director and Conductor of the Valley Symphony Orchestra and Chorale in Edinburg, TX and the Associate Conductor of the Chicago Chamber Orchestra. He also served as the music director and conductor of the American University Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., the American Youth Concert Orchestra in Northern Virginia, and the Chicago Philharmonic. He is in demand as a guest conductor throughout Europe and the United States. He studied conducting at Northwestern University, the University of Utah, and the Warsaw Music Conservatory in Poland. He also participated in prestigious conducting courses at the Tanglewood Music Center, the Aspen Music Festival, and in Budapest and Miskolc, Hungary.