TICO presented music of Hungary; America next

By Eileen Wingard

Eileen Wingard
Eileen Wingard

SAN DIEGO — The Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra, (TICO), now celebrating its 40th year, has begun this milestone season by programming two outstanding concerts.

The first, in mid-November, The Glory of Hungarian Music, included Brahms’ Hungarian Dances, #5 and #6, Bartok’s Hungarian Sketches, Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody #3, Berlioz’ Rakotzy March and Dohnanyi’s Variations on a Nursery Tune, with pianist Natsuki Fukasawa in masterful control.  Conductor David Amos has a special knack for creating theme-based programs which come together well.

The January 20th and 28th program featured two wonderful soloists, harpist Tasha Smith Godinez, in performances of Debussy’s Sacred and Profane Dances and Paul Creston’s Poem for Harp and Orchestra, probably a West Coast premiere. Creston’s son, Tim, attended. Both works were well-played by the impressive harpist and sympathetically accompanied by the orchestra.

Susana Poretzky sang Dvorak’s Gypsy Songs and three arias, Acerba Volutta from Adriana Lecourveur by Francesco Cilea, O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi by Puccini and the Habanera from Carmen by Bizet. I heard this concert at the First United Church of Chula Vista. The orchestra had much more presence in the live acoustics of the church’s high ceilinged, wooden interior than their usual venue. Poretzky sang with the dramatic flair and beautiful sound of a diva accustomed to opera houses of the world. I could hardly believe that in this remote church in Chula Vista, I was listening to this world-class vocalist!

TICO’s upcoming concerts, Americana,  Sunday, April 6, 3:00, Tuesday, April 8, 7:30 p.m will take place at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. They will feature music by well-known 20th century American composers, Walingford Reigger’s Dance Rhythms, Walter Piston’s Suite from “The Incredible Flutist,” Vincent Persichetti’s A Lincoln Address for narrator and orchestra, and Copland’s Four Dance Episodes from the ballet “Rodeo.” The narrator in the Persichetti work will be Dave Scott, popular announcer of radio station KUSI. This promises to be another entertaining, enlightening and enjoyable program by TICO, an orchestra composed of more than 70 loyal volunteer musicians who come weekly to perform under the inspired leadership of conductor, David Amos.

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Eileen Wingard is a freelance writer specializing in the arts. She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com  San Diego Jewish World seeks sponsorships to be placed, as this notice is, just below articles that appear on our site.  To inquire, call editor Donald H. Harrison at (619) 265-0808 or contact him via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com