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TWO OLD, TWO NEW AT THE SR SYMPHONY'S MARCH CONCERT IN WEILL
by Peter Lert
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Chamber
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by Terry McNeill
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THIRTY-THREE PLUS VARIATIONS AND AN OCEAN VIEW
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Choral and Vocal
A ST. JOHN PASSION FOR THE AGES
by Abby Wasserman
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Choral and Vocal
SPLENDID SCHUBERT SONGS IN SANET ALLEN RECITAL
by Terry McNeill
Saturday, March 2, 2024
Chamber
SHAW'S MICROFICTIONS HIGHLIGHTS MIRO QUARTET'S SEBASTOPOL CONCERT
by Peter Lert
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Chamber
FRY ST. SQ PLAYS A DEMANDING 222 GALLERY CONCERT
by Terry McNeill
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Symphony
YOUTH ORCHESTRA CHARMS BIG SPRING LAKE AUDIENCE
by Terry McNeill
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Chamber
SPIRITUAL CHAMBER MUSIC MARIN TRIO CONCERT
by Abby Wasserman
Sunday, February 25, 2024
Recital
ELEGANT VOCAL MASTERY AT ROSES SIGNATURE RECITAL
by Pamela Hicks Gailey
Sunday, February 25, 2024
SYMPHONY REVIEW
Sonoma County Philharmonic / Sunday, October 3, 2021
Norman Gamboa, conductor

Norman Gamboa Conducts Oct. 3 in Windsor

MOVIE MUSIC ON THE WINDSOR GREEN IN SO CO PHIL SEASON OPENER

by Terry McNeill
Sunday, October 3, 2021

People approaching the Windsor Green bandstand Oct. 3 for the Sonoma County Philharmonic’s season opening concert had some cause for concern. After 18 months of silence would the all-volunteer orchestra have enough musicians for a big movie music program? After all, performers can move, retire, or bail from the arduous work that goes into playing with an orchestra.

Worries were unfounded, as conductor Norman Gamboa led a strong contingent of 47 players under a warm mid-day sun with 400 seemingly happy listeners enjoying picnics on the grass to compliment the semi-familiar music taken from recent movies.

Most of the performers were playing under popup tents, but the brass sections and Mr. Gamboa himself labored without cover, and even the solo harp had shade. Mr. Gamboa led an hour-long transversal of themes from movies such as Spiderman, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and music that was unknown to me. I don’t think there was anything from Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings.

The impact of the often lively music was sharply reduced by the lack of amplification, as the Philharmonic was unable to access the Green’s sound system, the large elevated loudspeakers conspicuously in place for a later afternoon pop concert.

The season continues Nov. 13 and 14 in the Jackson Theater with Strauss, Barber’s Knoxville, Summer of 1915, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4. Morgan Harrington is the soprano soloist in the Barber.