The Brooklyn Conservatory Community Orchestra performed to a full house at the Plymouth  Church of the Pilgrims on March 27. The program was a delightful mix of both traditional and “off-beat” selections.

The evening began with Laideronnette, Empress of the Pagodas, the third movement of Maurice Ravel’s “Ma Mere L’Oye.” A wonderfully experimental work on the pentatonic scale, this airy, oceanic composition is modern yet traditional. It was followed by Serge Prokofiev’s infinitely complex “First Violin Concerto.” After a brief intermission, the evening concluded with Tchaikovsky’s complete “Fifth Symphony.”

For this writer, the highlight of the evening was Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto. Soloist Masha Lankovsky makes her violin speak flawlessly on many emotional levels. Her two curtain calls were well deserved. Continue Reading →