The Oregon Arts Orchestra took part in the 2011 American Celebration of Music in Austria, including a visit to the Czech Republic, July 8 – 17, 2011. Director Cindy Petty had this to say about the experience:
It was my pleasure to conduct the Oregon Arts Orchestra concert tour to Austria and I am now thoroughly convinced that Austria is the perfect and ultimate experience for orchestras! It is a musician’s dream come true to walk the same streets and perform in the very halls that Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven composed, lived, and played in. Our concert experience was well rounded, performing three times with the full orchestra and twice with our chamber orchestra; we were able to experience every type of performance. All venues – St. Nicholas’ Church, Minoritenkirche, Haydnsaal, the Rudolfinum (Dvorak Hall), and the Lobkowicz Palace – had large enthusiastic and appreciative audiences who demanded 2 and 3 encores. The Baroque church’s were beautiful performance settings and though very resonant created a well balanced sound of the orchestra. The palace chamber recitals were powerful – taking us back to the time of pure chamber music played in spacious palaces but performed in stunning intimate halls – we were performing on the exact same stages as our musical forefathers! The highlight for the orchestra was performing in the Rudolfinim (Dvorak Hall) in Prague! Absolutely stunning!!! What a humbling experience to walk across the well worn hardwood floors of the stage and see the pok marks of famous players from centuries of end pins digging in; and then to hear our own music resonating from the very same walls…Inspiring! A packed audience of over 800 delighted in our musical performance and encouraged us to play even beyond our best in this historical and majestic venue. This will ring in our memories for a lifetime and beyond. Overall, every aspect of our tour was perfect – Helmut, our concert manager, is a true professional and a gentleman. He even rolled up his sleeves and served food at Jutta’s! The orchestra was so impressed with Jutta that they took up a collection to add to the donations at the concert at Minoritenkirche, raising about 1100 EUR for the Orphanage in Romania. Julia, our tour manager wrapped herself around everyone’s heart while making sure our time schedules were met, meals prepared, sightseeing exciting, and sleeping accommodations perfect. I have traveled extensively for years with my orchestras and I am now with MCI because they are experts in concert touring. They consistently know how to create the perfect tour performance experience and hands down – they know how to meet the needs of musicians and directors in every way!
Cindy H. Petty, Past Music Director Oregon Arts Orchestra Lake Oswego, Oregon [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdoupiMTwyM&w=560&h=315]