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Symphony
SADAVA CONDUCTS ELEGANT SO CO PHIL INAUGURAL CONCERT
by Terry McNeill
Sunday, September 17, 2023
Chamber
POTENT SCRIABIN INTERPRETATIONS AT SPRING LAKE VILLAGE RECITAL
by Terry McNeill
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Symphony
ODYSSEY IN THE SEARCH FOR YUNCHAN AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL
by Abby Wasserman
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Chamber
VOM FESTIVAL'S CLOSING CONCERT A CELEBRATION FOR STRINGS
by Terry McNeill
Sunday, July 30, 2023
Chamber
RITE OF SPRING FOR 88 KEYS AT VOM FESTIVAL
by Pamela Hick Gailey
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Choral and Vocal
A POET'S LOVE SONG CYCLE AT VOM FESTIVAL JULY 27
by Elly Lichenstein
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Other
CHARMING "BARBER" A MENDO FESTIVAL TRIUMPH
by Pamela Hicks Gailey
Friday, July 21, 2023
Recital
RARE RAVEL IN MENDO FESTIVAL'S PRESTON HALL
by Terry McNeill
Thursday, July 20, 2023
SCHUMANN QUINTET PERFORMANCE RESCUES VOM FESTIVAL'S SECOND CONCERT
by Terry McNeill
Sunday, July 16, 2023
Chamber
VOM PLAYERS STRIP DOWN A SYMPHONY
by Abby Wasserman
Saturday, July 15, 2023
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.