Music Review: Winter Concert Series
Cary, NC — The Friends of Page-Walker Hotel began the 2013-2014 Winter Concert Series last Sunday with Erik Dyke & Friends. Mr. Dyke, double bassist with the North Carolina Symphony since 1978, was joined by flutist Anne Dyke, pianist Catherine Hamner and soprano Lora Fabio.
Winter Concert Series – Something For Everyone
I’ve photographed Winter Concerts since starting with CaryCitizen in 2010. It is a delightful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
There is something for every musical taste: Appalachian ( Little Windows, Mountain Aires and Bill Leslie), serious tom foolery (Madrigal Singers), Latin Jazz (Brazilian Soul) and extraordinary classical performances.
Brian Reagin, violinist and Concertmaster of the North Carolina Symphony will return for his fourth appearance in February 2014, always a sell out.
Intimate Setting
The main gallery is like a large living room, very different than a large venue like the Cary Arts Center Theater. Acoustically it’s the best and just a great place to hear music. While trying to make a photograph that puts the viewer there, I work hard to not disturb the audience or performer. Often I’ll just stop and stay still.
I’ve learned where the squeaky parts of the original wooden floors are.
Being an Audience Member
When I wait, I become an audience member. Last Sunday, before intermission, I put my cameras down and became an audience member. Soprano Lora Fabio sang “Donde leita usci” from “La Boheme”. It was the most incredibly beautiful music I’ve ever heard. I’m a tough old bird, father to two Marines who think I’m a hard case and I made John Boehner look stoic. No recoding or audiophile system could duplicate the experience. I still can’t believe a human voice could do that. And I was in the back.
Four Show Season
The Winter Concert Series consists of four shows, from November to February, in the intimate main gallery of the Page-Walker Arts & History Center, presented by Friends of Page-Walker. The next 3 dates are Dec. 15th, Jan. 26th and Feb 23rd, Sundays at 4PM. Season tickets and individual concert tickets may be purchased at the Cary Arts Center box office Monday – Friday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM; online at eTix.com (search for “Page-Walker”) or by phone at 1-800-514.3849.
Strongly recommended.
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Review and photos by Brooke Meyer.
Thanks, Brooke, for capturing the nuances that make the Friends of the Page-Walker concerts unique and special — the intimate venue, the amazing acoustics, the great performers.
At this moment, tickets still remain for the Dec. 15 concert that features the Raleigh Boychoir Millennium Chorus (but they probably won’t last long).
As Brooke notes, it’s a delightful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. And we think it’s a bargain, too.