The Mormon Temple in the Oakland Hills is not just a place of worship. The temple also has an opera house. Every couple of months, the house symphony, The Temple Hill Symphony (THS), comprised primarily of attendants of the Temple, put on a concert for the general public. Sometimes they collaborate with professionals such as Jenny Oakes Baker and Russell Hancock Attendees are allowed to discuss the events after the fact with outsiders.
On October 11th and 12th, Lafayette pianist Randall Benway performed the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 with the THS. As always, John Pew was the conductor. The first on the program was the William Tell Overture by Rosinni and then the Bacchanale by Saint-Saens.
At times, there were some noticeably out of tune stringed instruments. Brass sections occasionally hit too high. But these were barely noticeable and only so for the first two pieces.
Beforehand, Pew told the audience the history of The Brahms 1 and what it meant to him. He paused a few times during this intro, holding back his tears of joy. It was always his dream to perform the piece in front of a live audience. He carried that dream out and it was executed flawlessly.
Overall, it was remarkable, particularly for what Pew humbly considered an “amateur” symphony. All three movements had excellent percussion: on time and thoroughly driving the energy. The accompaniment of Benway added more to the soloist section for Brahms. Pew was able to show what a group of passionate musicians can do.
To check out any upcoming events of the symphony, visit their website at http://thsymphony.org/. The next event will be February 7-8, 2009 at 7:30, with the theme of “Silver Screen Serenade.” All events are free and open to the general public. There is no dress code, but this writer suggests semi-formal attire.
The symphony is also always looking for volunteer musicians to contribute their talents. More details can be found on the aforementioned website.
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