January 11, 2022
Dear Maestro Miropolsky,
These are certainly bleak times, in the dank gloom of winter and with the pandemic raging onward. Yet on Monday evening January 10th, the Cascade Orchestra under your direction demonstrated just how glorious and wonderful life can be, at least within the realm of music.
The performance of the orchestra that evening was nothing less than stellar. And of course the performance of the guest soloist, Nathan Chan, was moving and awe inspiring. Nathan and his virtuosity are truly a gift to classical music lovers in the Seattle area. And it was also very enjoyable to see and hear Nathan and David Tan performing together after Nathan’s and the orchestra’s great performance of Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme.
But the orchestra’s performance of Dvorak’s New World Symphony after intermission was the crowning glory of the evening. I have always loved that symphony and it is certainly one of my top five pieces in the classical repertoire. As I listened intently to the performance, I was not disappointed. I am not a sophisticated music critic, but the orchestra’s performance of that symphony seemed to me to be well-nigh perfection. I particularly noted how the woodwinds, so integral to that piece, performed so well together. And the performance of the English horn player, Maureen Stone, playing that beautiful “Going Home” theme in the second movement was quite lovely. It occurred to me after the evening’s performance, that it was so well done that the you and the orchestra should perhaps consider make a recording of all of the pieces played that night.
Thank you and the orchestra for your excellence and virtuosity in continuing to entertain classical music lovers in this area. As a regular patron of the Seattle Symphony, I really appreciate their fine performances. But over the years I have also become a great fan of the phenomenal Cascade Orchestra.
Please continue in your excellence.
All the best from a devoted fan,
Tom K.
Brier, WA