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A musical moment to remember: Recently, the Grand Junction Symphony performed Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9 (Choral)” and gave those attending a musical experience usually available only in cities of several million people and at a ticket price 2-4 times the GJSO’s.
The four vocal soloists — soprano Kara Guggenmos, mezzo Marcia Ragonetti, tenor Jack Delmore and bass Christopher Job – achieved the blended quartet sound that renews our sense of amazement at the human voice and its ability to make music.
The 110 voice Western Colorado Chorale/Mesa State Chamber Choir combined chorus recreated the vocal fireworks that Beethoven, even in deafness, knew how to write and only a chorus that large can achieve.
GJSO Conductor Kirk Gustafson preserved the work’s German feeling from the military march to the sweeping declarations of joy. The evening was a very special moment for great music in Grand Junction.
In 100 years, Grand Junction may have the population size that makes this sort of musical excellence routine. In the meantime, we are incredibly blessed that the resources to make this happen came together here last Saturday night.
ED ARNOS
Grand Junction
One Response to “Grand Junction Symphony’s recent performance”
Posted May 13th, 2008 at 4:19 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
I agree completely with Mr. Arnos. The Grand Junction Symphony is far, far better than a community this size has any reason to expect. And for the most part the people of the community support the Symphony better than in most cities. Now if we only had a reviewer on the Sentinel who knew anything about music and could write informed reviews…! I remember a few years back the local Sentinel reviewer who downgraded a Symphony performance because she complained that a particular piece by Brahms was too long! (thereby displaying her ignorance since the length of any piece of Brahm’s work has been known for about 150 years).
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