by Baron Haber
STAFF WRITER
Last Monday, Feb. 12, over 150 musicians crowded the Cordiner stage to deliver a powerful night of music to the students and community members in the audience.
It was the first time in 15 years that the Whitman Symphony performed with the Whitman Chorale. The Chorale filled the risers behind the symphony for the concert’s final song: a selection of songs from the opera “Prince Igor” composed by Alexander Borodin: creating an awesome wall of sound to complement the dramatic, lively music.
Many community members turned out to watch Whitman’s musicians put on a performance of a scale rarely seen in Walla Walla.
Dr. Edward Dixon, who usually conducts only the symphony, had the responsibility of directing the entire body of performers. “It was the biggest group of young musicians I’ve ever directed,” said Dixon. “They weren’t at all difficult to conduct, though. Everyone was very focused.”
Other songs included “Adagio in G Minor” by Tomaso Albinoni, a slow and melodic piece for strings and organ, and “L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2” by Georges Bizet, whose four movements range from the sweeping and optimistic Pastorale to the lively and dramatic Farandole.
“Dr. [Robert] Bode selected the final piece for the Chorale and Symphony from an opera, so I tried to choose complementary music,” said Dixon. “The Bizet is from a stage play, so really what we had here was a night of theatre music.”
