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-72b3bdedf811fcb8cc3c55833a12c43e2741e0df}
Concert day begins in the afternoon, when the orchestra gathers in Sanders Theater for dress rehearsal.
{shortcode-628fe483314dddf4b39f95855bf9f2d8491e01ab}
William Swett ‘22 rehearses on bass.
{shortcode-7f0e5cd2fa6cbc60c39db65d423308e5bba7fa83}
Camden Archambeau ‘23 conducts the orchestra in rehearsal.
{shortcode-6f426e2d0757d33b2016a8909fa343c9cb08e511}
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-48ae4d9bafe581ad5e4c4a366e0a612027927300}
The air fills with nervous excitement as students unpack and tune their instruments, making final preparations before the concert.
{shortcode-12501a26f041beae6f5a1fbfb0de59858fb89506}
An empty stage waits to be filled as audience members begin filing into Sanders Theater.
{shortcode-be707e74bc586f1bdd800d6584d649c7b449766b}
As the orchestra takes its place, Brian Tobin ‘23 warms up on percussion.
{shortcode-b2cb5c4010a305fc85cc947da21ffeccff898a1d}
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-419ef6c43ba62b3cad405c759ff70209c128be94}
Archambeau conducts Zoltan Kodaly’s “Peacock Variations.”
{shortcode-af67d2dd5d9c0665aa07ccceafa6e3ff6b4b340f}
Kevin Miura ‘25 is the featured soloist in Max Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy,” the orchestra’s final piece.
{shortcode-824e1369c7de3784ff95a031b59de16ba9ce3f7c}
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