NIH Philharmonica's "For the Birds" Performance

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My BodyPump instructor invited our class to attend a performance by the NIH Philharmonia. I didn't even know she played a musical instrument (or which one)! But I always like to support my friends in their endeavors, so I marked the show in my calendar.

I thought this would be a small event, but when I arrived, I could barely find a seat! The church where the event was held was packed. It's always encouraging to see communities support local groups like this, especially in the arts.

Look at this outfit! She truly is dedicated to her art.

When the conductor Dr. Nancia D'Alimonte (who looks like a red-headed Emma Thompson) came out, she was wearing a hat with huge feathers as well as a feather boa! She told us about the program and that all of the pieces were inspired by birds (all the while adding "gobble gobble" and other bird noises throughout her speech. Her imitations were actually quite good!). I thought the theme was very interesting and unique. I was afraid that I would have to listen to Handel's Messiah one more time (tis the season...), so I was pleasantly surprised that the program was mixing things up.

Here are the pieces we heard. Some of the music was familiar to me; it's amazing how pop culture and the use of classical music in modern television/movies can introduce these famous pieces to you, and yet you still don't know who composed the music!

La gazza ladra: Overture (The Thieving Magpie) by Gioacchino Rossini [This piece is based on a true story of a servant girl who was sent to the gallows for stealing a silver spoon, just for her master to learn that a curious magpie was the true thief. Rossini is sometimes referred to as the laziest composer because he retired at 39, but in his lifetime he composed 39 operas!]

Gli uccelli (The Birds): Suite by Ottorino Respighi [He was very inspired by past composers, who they themselves were inspired by birds.]

1. Preludio (Prelude)

2. La colomba (The Dove) - You can hear the mournful cooing!

3. La gallina (The Hen) - This sounds just like the pecking and clucking of a hen.

4. L'usignolo (The Nightingale) - This part has a spooky, eerie opening, and then the music morphed into sounds that reminded me of the music in Disney's Sleeping Beauty.

5. Il cucù (The cuckoo) - I love the majestic opening for this part, and the "coo-coo" is very clear.

Le cygne from Le carnaval des animaux (The Swan from The Carnival of the Animals) by Camille Saint-Saëns [He was more precocious than Mozart, learning to play the piano when he was 2-and-a-half years old and composing his first piece at 3! He was quite a Renaissance Man, and had interests ranging from biology, archaeology, history, etc. The carnival suite features many animals, and he wrote it for fun and never expected it to be so popular. He did not want it to be published before his death, but he did let this particular swan piece go to the public.] In this piece, the piano is the water while the "gaggle of cellos" represent the swan.

L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird) by Igor Stravinsky [He was not a particularly well-known conductor when he wrote this piece for the Ballet Russes (He was actually the FIFTH choice of the person who commissioned it), but it became an instant sensation. The story of the firebird is essentially this: Prince Ivan comes across the firebird in a garden, and he wants the firebird to use its magic to save some princesses who were trapped in the castle of an evil king. The firebird casts a sleeping spell on the kind and Prince Ivan is able to rescue the princesses. You may recognize this piece from Fantasia 2000. This is the 1919 version.]

I was so impressed by this volunteer group! And the conductor, who is internationally recognized, is so fun and energetic; she is wonderful at describing the history of each piece, too. I would definitely recommend seeing them perform. Their next concert is on March 3, 2018, so maybe I'll see you there!