Stalking Orchestra 1

Still no answers to my emails to Orchestras 1 and 2, the orchestras that Ms. L. recommended I consider if I want to join a community orchestra in the fall. That makes me a little impatient, though I know how it is to be a volunteer at the receiving end of a generic organizational email account. In any case, both orchestras happen to have concerts this weekend, so I want to stalk them check them out. I figured this would be a good way to gauge their level, and--Ms. L.'s informed opinion aside--conclude for myself where I would fit in, skill-wise. Tonight was Orchestra 1.

An amateur orchestra is never going to have the sleek, powerful sound of the pros. (If it did, no one would be suggesting that I could hang with them.) Having said that, by the time Orchestra 1's concert was over, I found myself listening to what was there instead of what wasn't. They closed out the concert with Sibelius's Symphony No. 2, which I had forgotten that I knew. 

As soon as it started, I flashed back to a time early in my freshman year of college, popping that cassette tape into my circa 1988 boom box while studying. No sooner did a measure or two play than my roommate (who was from Sweden) exclaimed, "Sibelius!" and proudly announced, "He's Finnish-Swedish!" She then gave me a quick primer on the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland, and, while she was at it, much of the previous 150 years of the history of northern Europe. She smoked and dyed her hair black and dated a football player and dressed as Cleopatra for Halloween, none of which I have done to this day, and she knew her history, and we bonded over Sibelius. 

In Orchestra 1's rendition, the winds were pretty solid, and so were the lower strings. In the first violins--I couldn't hear the seconds very well--there was clearly a range of skill levels. At times I thought I could hear the front couple of stands carrying the rest of the section. But they finished strong. By the time I left, I wanted to listen to nothing in the car on the way home except Sibelius.

My conclusion, in short: I could hang with these guys. I could maybe even contribute. They are probably about the caliber of my college orchestra. However, they already have a ton of violins. 

The Orchestre de Paris and Paavo Järvi, via YouTube and ArioniaTellus2

And there are some great program notes about the Sibelius from the CSO.