THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 26, 1994 TAG: 9409230001
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
A symphony orchestra can have the finest musicians available. Their instruments can be of superior quality. The orchestra's repertoire can include the works of master composers. These elements alone do not ensure that the orchestra will deliver impressive performances and be an artistic success.
The component that can ensure the success is a skilled and knowledgeable conductor, one who is well-versed in music theory, composition and interpretation, who enables the musicians to work together in the most productive way and establishes group procedures, expectations and standards which are understood by all and enforced consistently. Joann Falletta provides the Virginia Symphony with these guidelines so that they may reach their highest potential.
Sept. 9, marked the beginning of the 75th year of the Virginia Symphony. It was a memorable evening for me for at least two reasons: (1) My father-in-law, Alexander Meloni, was a charter member of the orchestra (1920-21), and although no special homage was paid to those ``first'' musicians, he would have been vastly proud of the accomplishments of the orchestra, and (2) Maestro Falletta and the members of the symphony and chorus reached a level of music-making that I had never heard from them before.
If this concert was an indicator of what is to come, there should not be an empty seat in Chrysler Hall for the remainder of the season.
THEODORE L. FORTE
Norfolk, Sept. 15, 1994 by CNB