by Robert Rollin

This past Sunday the Youngstown Symphony, directed by Randall Fleisher, played its third Stained Glass Concert at the Martin Luther Lutheran Church, one of the city’s most beautiful places of worship. This new series, instituted last year, involves visits by a small orchestral core to area churches, and interaction with local ensembles. The stunning sanctuary gave the impression of an old European church, with a delicately latticed hand-carved wood altarpiece.

The concert amounted to a lively mélange of short classical chestnuts combined with some popular pieces. The afternoon’s highlight was the performance of Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus by the Martin Luther Lutheran Church Chancel Choir accompanied by the Youngstown Symphony. Anthony Ruggiero, choir director, had prepared the small group well. The lovely gentle choral sounds melded beautifully to the accompanying strings.

The performances of two movements from the Vivaldi Four Seasons were just as wonderful. Concertmaster Calvin Lewis served as the soloist for Spring, and the other violins divided to depict individual birdcalls. [Read more…]