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Performing at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest
Photo: Colin Talcroft |
A problem quickly became apparent at the SRSYO's Budapest concert venue, the main hall of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences: there were going to be far too few seats for the crowd. Staff scrambled to find extra chairs to accommodate people standing in the aisles and at the back of the room as the orchestra members began to take the stage and warm up. In the end, no one had to stand—and more people than expected is a good problem to have.
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Dr. Richard Loheyde conducts the SRSYO in Budapest
Photo: Colin Talcroft |
Every parent and everyone in the music education department of the Santa Rosa Symphony should be proud of the SRSYO musicians. They performed extraordinarily well in Budapest and the Budapest audience was extraordinarily appreciative—clapping loudly after every piece and clapping in unison, which appears to be the Hungarian way. Here in Hungary, the Strauss
Thunder and Lightning Polka and the Liszt
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 went over particularly well. As in Vienna, the audience needed no prompting to join in with clapping at the appropriate places in the Strauss, but the familiar Liszt selection was perhaps the best barometer of the audience's reaction, and they were clearly impressed. Hands tapped out the beat on knees. The changing tempo of the piece was reflected in the swaying of heads. In short, it was with rapt attention that the audience listened and they stood and cheered when the last note rang out. The Budapest performance was a resounding success. It was a fine way to end the tour.
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SRSYO Concertmaster Grace Yarrow joins the band
after dinner in Budapest
Photo: Colin Talcroft |
But the evening wasn't completely over for the tour participants. Dinner in a high-ceilinged ballroom followed. Again a buffet with so many choices that it was hard to know where to begin. Again, local performers—this time a three-piece ensemble comprising a double bass, a violin, and a cimbalom. They played mostly traditional Hungarian tunes but also a few pieces from the classical repertoire with an Eastern European flavor. After dinner, concertmaster Grace Yarrow borrowed a violin and joined the ensemble for a bit of the
Hungarian Rhapsody. A little dancing even broke out....
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Enjoying the after-concert dinner and entertainment in Budapest
Photo: Colin Talcroft |
Elexa Yee (cello) commented "It was really hot in the hall, but I loved the way the audience clapped for us." Max Shepard (trombone) said "The audience was really receptive. They responded to everything we did. It was great." Looking back at the whole trip, Lana Rodman (flute) said "It was awesome, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This was a great year to be in the Youth Orchestra!"
Everyone a little tired, everyone a little relieved. Not everyone looking forward to the end of the tour, but tomorrow home....
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