This morning, Executive Director Dan Hart shared his impressions of last night’s concert.
The big Warsaw moment came and went in a flurry, and it was a tremendous night for the BPO.
Many of the BPO fans in attendance were moved to tears by the electric nature of the performance and the profound artistic statement we made on the world stage. The Filharmonia Hall seemed to fit us like a glove — the orchestra seemed right at home and responded in kind.
I sat with Maestro Penderecki and he said many times how good the orchestra sounded. One can tell that he has a very high status in the country as he got a standing ovation after we performed his Adagio – the applause for him went in for a long time.
I was trying to gauge the response to our Gershwin and Bernstein by the “head bobbing” quotient and there was a lot of it —-and some toe-tapping around me. I heard only positive comments, and many could not stop talking about how great the concert was afterward.
Great solos from the orchestra -Alex Jokipii has major work in the Gershwin and really nailed it, but we have so many great players and all the solos shined.
The Festival organizers were very very happy and are already talking about a return engagement!
 Beethoven Easter Festival display. |
 The hall was beautiful. Note the little bit of spring in the lower right hand corner. |
 Clarinetist Patti DiLutis, warming up. |
 Principal violist Caroline Gilbert warming up. This is Caroline’s first season with the BPO. |
 Dinesh Joseph at the xylophone. |
 The dream come true: the BPO taking its bows at the Beethoven Easter Festival. |
 JoAnn Falletta in her dressing room at Filharmonia Hall. |
 Legends: JoAnn Falletta and Krzysztof Penderecki. |
 Elzbieta Penderecka, Conrad Tao, Krzysztof Penderecki, JoAnn Falletta, Ambassador Paul Jones and his wife, author Catherine Cheremeteff Jones. |
 BPO board members Karen Sperrazza, Scott Stenclik, Cindy Abbott Letro, Executive Director Dan Hart and Board Chair Steve Swift. |
 The audience files in. |
 BPO Director of Development and Associate Director Jen Barbee (L) with board member Karen Sperrazza and Rachel Stenclik. |
 Elzbieta Penderecka, JoAnn Falletta, and Poland Tour Ambassador/BPO Board Member Cindy Abbott Letro. |
 Ambassador Paul Jones speaks at the post-concert party. |