The Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra presented its first concert of the spring semester on Saturday Feb. 26. Now In its 214th season, HRO is the nation’s oldest continuously-operating symphony orchestra. Here, we take a look behind the scenes at the music and magic of HRO, from dress rehearsal to backstage to showtime.
{shortcode-09f6caa6397e3df883e5a35767e64dd23867f3e5}
Concert day begins in the afternoon, when the orchestra gathers in Sanders Theater for dress rehearsal.
{shortcode-958fe97297425427eda7c4fdb91cde9c5b354a01}
William Swett ‘22 rehearses on bass.
{shortcode-a47ab54ef2b460871b65f7b25d37b173ca579c8c}
Camden Archambeau ‘23 conducts the orchestra in rehearsal.
{shortcode-ec10d42978b660a903e8bf119471f8f07878a324}
At their call time, musicians make their way into the Green Room. Paul Tamburro ‘22, Sophie Choate ’23, and Joshua Halberstadt ’25 warm up before the concert.
{shortcode-ef10ab6b5979001c69bf25620a86a0691fd2744c}
The air fills with nervous excitement as students unpack and tune their instruments, making final preparations before the concert.
{shortcode-1ee5e0f9a7ecf78b25587cd1aa84c06eb3de445a}
An empty stage waits to be filled as audience members begin filing into Sanders Theater.
{shortcode-eccf0d940b85f968928500462317f2ddc3ee1099}
As the orchestra takes its place, Brian Tobin ‘23 warms up on percussion.
{shortcode-fc4931e779116baeddd1fc5c115d85a6d09dd93c}
With the audience quieted and the lights dimmed, the orchestra opens with their first piece of the night, debuting Hannah Lash’s “Forestallings.” Pictured here is harpist Gabrielle Grant ‘24.
{shortcode-50001fecbf10488d4ff6050059e6a10d2bb0f352}
Archambeau conducts Zoltan Kodaly’s “Peacock Variations.”
{shortcode-c6a7654e66e1f08fec837c75564d9c437eef61b7}
Kevin Miura ‘25 is the featured soloist in Max Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy,” the orchestra’s final piece.
{shortcode-d15f31b976236fce86f2c6249b4c414610cdcc13}
The orchestra stands and receives applause as Federico Cortese, music director, shakes hands with Lash.
Read more in Arts
100 Years of Mussorgsky/Ravel’s ‘Pictures’: Exhibition is Still Open