It was a beautiful Friday night and the entire conservatory was buzzing with excited western classical music lovers.
Walking into the venue, you could feel the anticipation for the concert that would inaugurate the Royal Conservatory of Music’s 2016-2017 concert season.
They partnered with Culture Days, a three day pan-Canadian event to promote awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement in the arts.
Fortunately for the public, it was a free event, which was well received as Koerner Hall was nearly filled.
As I entered the dimly lit hall, my eyes were drawn to the orchestra pit that had been spotlighted.
Excited for what was to come, I found my seat amongst my Arts Management peers and started to read through the program.
Soon, the orchestra began to file in, and the hall, which was once filled with the audience whispers, became silent as all attention was set on them.
The man of the night, conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy, entered and took his place at the front of the orchestra, and after his opening remarks, they began to perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise.”
The Royal Conservatory Orchestra was filled with young talent, and with their additional performances of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, featuring Rossina Grieco, and Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, they had put on an incredible and charismatic performance.
The orchestra’s skill was truly displayed through these pieces and reflected by their dynamic and enthusiastic conductor.
The performance ended with a roar of applause and a standing ovation. The audience was blown away. I was left astounded.
If the goal of the night was to create a desire to truly engage with music, the RCM and Culture Days definitely succeeded.