The old adage about how when a door closes, a window opens proved true Sunday afternoon for members of the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestra, who took the stage at Collins Center for Arts after guest violinist Midori cancelled her visit due to illness.
The group, including four violin soloists, had been scheduled to perform in Hauck Auditorium at Bangor High School on Saturday night. Instead, they replaced Midori and performed Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor with members of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. Jason Posnock, concertmaster for North Carolina’s Asheville Symphony Orchestra, played with them.
Julia Malcom, 13, of Trenton performed the first movement, brothers Brandon Apote, 14, and Colin Aponte, 10, of Brooklin shared soloist duties on the second and Will Somes, 16, of Cherryfield played the third. All four allowed the music to flow through them and over the audience, as if they’d been born to play Bach. It was a triumph for the talent pool nestled along the coast of Maine.
Conductor Lucas Richman gave permission for the audience to clap in-between movements, an absolute no-no in the classical music world, and applaud concertgoers did. The BSO’s music director told the audience to expect something “magical” from the young performers. Richman was right, and the charmed audience rose to its feet as the violinists clutched their instruments, bows and a dozen red roses.
Before the young performers took the stage, Midori’s absence hung over the orchestra like a dark cloud for the opening piece, Jean Sibelius’ Finlandia. Preparation for her residency began four years ago. It was to have been a rare opportunity for members of the orchestra to play with a soloist of her quality and reputation.
The BSO seemed to be taking the stage begrudgingly. Musicians played as if the piece were exercise rather than the composer’s signature composition — the music that for more than a century has defined his homeland, Finland.
But after the students performed and intermission was over, the orchestra came onstage with a fierce determination. Richman and the musicians attacked Sibelius’ Symphony No. 1 in E minor with vigor and determination. The symphony beautifully captured all the hunting dramatic contrast of the piece.
Sunday’s concert was not the one the BSO so meticulously planned for but it showed that the emphasis Richman has placed on building the youth orchestra is ensuring the future of classical music Down East and in northern Maine.
The Bangor Symphony Orchestra will perform its next concert Russian Masters at 3 p.m. March 8 at the Collins Center for the Arts.