A Memorable Performance
On November 15, 2014 I walked into the San Francisco Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall
to attend the rehearsal perform by the San Francisco Youth Orchestra. This was my first
time going to an orchestral performance, since I’ve only been to performances such as
operas or musicals. The musical sound of young musicians testing their instruments,
getting ready for the rehearsal was crispier and lively than any CD recordings I’ve heard.
The San Francisco Youth Orchestra played three pieces in this performance: Overture to
Ruslan and Ludmila by Glinka, Piano Concerto No. 3 by Prokofiev featuring young pianist
Agata Sorotokin, and Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz. Since Glinka finished writing
Ruslan and Ludmila at 1842; Prokofiev completed the Piano Concerto No. 3 at 1921; and
Berlioz wrote the Symphonie Fantastique in 1830, the program was not organized in
chronological order or grouped by music styles. However, the Overture to Ruslan and
Ludmila and Piano Concerto No. 3 are both very powerful and energetic pieces that
energize and evoke emotions, so the orchestra definitely aroused the audience’s emotion
and capture their attention by performing these two pieces.
I definitely enjoyed the Overture to Ruslan and Ludmila, in fact when the performance
started the whole group of audience all quieted down and focused on the performance right
away due to the fast and strong tempo of the piece. The major key and pleasant melody
really pleased the audience and the simultaneous hand movements of violinists just added
more fun on watching and listening to the piece. The coda of the piece sounded satisfying
