The second set of concerts in Allegro’s summer series take place at 2 and 7:30 p.m. this Saturday, July 12 at F&M’s Barshinger Center and that’s good news for music lovers. (I know it’s really called Allegro: The Chamber Orchestra of Lancaster, but I feel like we know each other well enough to be on a first-name basis). This outfit just goes from strength to strength, as their first concert on June 13 showed. The program featured works by Mozart (the Overture to “Cosi fan Tutte”), Bach (the Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D Major) and the “Don Quixote” Suite by Telemann, a work with which I was totally unfamiliar. Another new work on the program was composer Ralph Lehman’s “Conversations,” a work for two flutes and ensemble that was dedicated to long-time Allegro member Vicki Hill. It was a tonal and somewhat romantic work with shadows of jazz, a hint of exoticism and an extended portion using a 13th-century chant as its melodic base. The two flute parts (there were also significant roles for the other wind instruments) did not quite balance each other — perhaps a subtle comment from the composer? But that’s the way real conversations go. But the real standout performance of the evening was Serge Prokofiev’s difficult “Classical” Symphony No. 1 – precise and balanced in the way the Flying Wallendas were precise and balanced. Rhythms were crisp, the right notes were hit and every cool, effervescent mood of the piece was captured. Every time I go to one of their performances I’m surprised, delighted and glad I went. Saturday’s performance centers around “World Travelers:” The Austrian Mozart offers a “Paris” Symphony, the German Mendelssohn writes the “Italian” Symphony and the Italian Vivaldi dedicates a concerto to Dresden, Germany.
Allegro is not only offering CDs of its performances, it’s offering all 10 of the CDs on a flash drive. Finally, if you missed the “Greatest Hits” giveaway, just check the Web site for a free download.
