Jazz, marches, dance music set for TICO concert

By David Amos

David Amos
David Amos
Victoria Robertson
Victoria Robertson

SAN DIEGO–On this coming Sunday, July 27, at 3:00 p.m., the 70 piece Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra will present its closing concert of the season: The Annual Pops Concert.

This has been a popular series for TICO, now completing its fortieth season. The concert, titled “Music from Near and Far” will have two Sousa marches, a Waltz by Johann Strauss II, the Acceleration Waltz, and a Norwegian march by Johann Halvorsen.

On the lighter side, there will be a medley titled A Touch of Jazz, with the popular tunes Cute, C. Jam Blues, Li’l Darlin’, Take Five, It Don’t Mean a Thing, Round Midnight, and The Swingin’ Shepherd Blues. There will also be three melodies from the movie hit The Prince of Egypt, with the songs Deliver Us, Through Heaven’s Eyes, and When You Believe.

The orchestra usually presents in its Summer Pops a Golden Baton, the guest conducting of a musical selection, awarded to a member of the community, the synagogue, or of TICO, who has made an important contribution to its continuation and artistic progress. It could be musical, administrative, or financial. Departing from this tradition, this year the concert will present two talented young conductors. Directing Gimenez’ popular Zarzuela intermezzo, “The Wedding of Luis Alonzo” will be Diego Guerra. William Nakamura will conduct a work for strings by a San Diego composer, Arkady Luxemburg, his beautiful and idiomatic, Three Pieces for Strings, namely a Prelude, Waltz, and Ragtime.

There will be one surprise piece in the program: How about a work by Puccini which you have never heard before? I am told that it’s a world premiere.

The guest soloist for the concert will be Soprano Victoria Robertson. She is that rare performer who is truly multi-faceted and demonstrates her creative nature by continually conquering musical territory including classical, musical theatre and cross-over music. Her performance history is extensive and her ability to mold into various performance styles is unique and exciting.

She was awarded the title of Miss USO in 2000, for her performance work for the U.S. Military and supporting organizations, a title which she continued to hold for seven years. She has toured overseas, and performed aboard aircraft carriers, and was often invited to headline official government functions.

As well as being a veteran of the stage, Victoria loves to be in front and behind the television camera. In 2011 she produced and presented an original documentary series called From Across the Pond, for English TV. She continues to produce various series for cable TV, and appeared in various commercials and infomercials.

This will be her third appearance with TICO. She will sing operatic arias from Oberon by Von-Weber, from Pagliacci by Leoncavallo, the ever-popular O Mio Babbino Caro from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, and I Could’ve Danced All Night from My Fair Lady.

The orchestra would like to dedicate this concert to the blessed memory of two people who recently passed away, whose contributions and support, musical and logistical have greatly influenced the development of TICO: Ruth Kass, wife of retired concertmaster Harold Kass, and conductor Charles D. Yates.

Tifereth Israel Synagogue is located on 6660 Cowles Mountain Blvd, San Diego, Ca., 92119. For more information, directions, or reservations, call (619) 697 6001, or go online, www.tiferethisrael.com/TICO.
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Amos is the conductor of the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra (TICO) and has guest conducted professional orchestras all over the world.  He may be contacted via david.amos@sdjewishworld.com