JULIE RUMMINGS
Special to The Leader

Under the direction of distinguished conductor JoAnn Falletta, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) performed its fourth nnual joint concert with the SUNY Fredonia School of Music on Friday, Oct. 30 in King Concert Hall. The concert featured School of Music cello professor Natasha Farny as the soloist for Robert Schumann’s Cello Concerto. Also in the program was Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, featuring soprano Mary Wilson.

The opportunity to work with Falletta and the world renowned BPO is a unique honor. When asked how she got involved in this project, Farny said, “[The Buffalo Philharmonic] have an interest in connecting with the community…each year a soloist from the School of Music has to perform the Concerto with them. So, I am just one of many.”

Before the concert Farny said, “We are hoping the hall will be quite full. It looks like a winner of a program.”

There was a sizable audience arriving to catch the show, all walking into a hall filled with chaotic sounds as dozens of performers tuned their instruments.

The concert began with a piece by the 19th century German composer Robert Schumann. His Concerto for Cello and Orchestra is known for its absence of pauses between individual movements.

“You will hear the first movement and then you will hear a musical transition but before you know it, you won’t even realize it, you will hear some slow music,” explained Farny. “That is the second movement.”

During this performance, Farny was center stage with her cello. She received a well deserved standing ovation from the audience and the BPO.

After the intermission, the orchestra performed a piece called Symphony No.4 by Austrian composer Gustav Mahler.

“It starts with sleigh bells,” Farny said. “So it will make you think you are taking a winter journey through the snow.” The symphony went on in this lighthearted fashion until the very end when Mary Wilson finally made an appearance. She gave a stunning rendition of Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Was mir das Kind erzäblt.

“I really enjoyed the Mahler,” said junior Angela Mauri. “I have never heard it performed live.”

The sentiment was shared by senior Lily Jarvis. “It was awesome, really inspiring and motivating,” she said. The BPO lived up to its shining reputation and the audience got a taste of the talent residing in Fredonia’s School of Music.