The video cameras, the obnoxious parents, the pain of listening to youngsters scratch out "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" — who can blame people for avoiding music recitals at all costs? Thankfully, the Student Recital Series at the Curtis Institute of Music in no way resembles your grade school torture. The free recitals are offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays as a way for Curtis students to share their talent with the community and to offer the school's prot‚g‚s an opportunity to hone their concert skills.
Founded in 1924, the Curtis Institute of Music is one of the premier music conservatories in the world. Every member of the student body receives full, merit-based scholarships for the entirety of his or her studies, and they stay at the Institute until their world class instructors deem them ready to graduate. At that point, most of the students move on to musical WORLDDOMINATION! Rest assured, these recitals are only a stopping point on their respective paths to greatness. Curtis alumni constitute 25 percent of the "big five" U.S. orchestras.
The recitals are held at Field Concert Hall, a small, intimate venue. It's mostly an older crowd, but there are also a number of students who have come to watch their friends play. The atmosphere is professional, yet personable. The concerts vary in content — some nights the repertoire draws from orchestral pieces, other nights from classical opera. The recital I attended featured five pieces, written by Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Tournier, Debussy, Houdy and Ysa˜e. Alice Soria gave the first performance, a three-piece harp set. The acoustics of the small venue showcased her talent, as her hands fluttered across the strings. A spirited solo by violinist Julianne Lee followed — intense and passionate, the student received an energetic ovation from the crowd. Three duets followed: a clarinet, a violin and a cello were each accompanied by piano for their respective pieces. The duets were all stellar, and it was heartening to see that in addition to playing together, the performers were close friends, often embracing energetically after completing their renditions — a nice change of pace from the cold, stiff manners of seasoned professionals.
The concert hall fills to capacity, so be sure to arrive somewhat early — plus, coming late is pretty embarrassing since the entrance is right next to the stage. From start to finish, including intermission, the concert runs a manageable two hours. It's plenty worth the trip downtown, and you'll get out in time to catch some of the Rittenhouse Square nightlife afterward.
