Symphony Orchestra Performance

In the month of March, I attended the musical performance “Harp Magic” by the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra at the Michigan Theater and the performance of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra at Hill Auditorium. Though the two orchestras, repertories, and venues were all different, experiencing the two performances in the same month allowed me to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the role that symphony orchestras play in today’s society. By attending live performances of symphony orchestras in Ann Arbor, one can become engaged with musical history and the symphonic tradition, recognize the transformation of the function of symphony orchestras, and take part in enjoying and continuing the art that has also been undergoing evolution.
By watching the performance of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, our city’s own symphony orchestra, I gained a sense of pride because it was encouraging to see that the symphony’s rich history and tradition, which had originated hundreds of years ago, are still being passed on by members of my community. In watching the Montreal Symphony Orchestra perform live, I appreciated the difficulty of the musical works and the effort that goes into bringing each musical piece to life. The live performances transform musical works, which could be considered articles of the past, into relevant components of the present by having live orchestras bring the music to attentive audiences. While only one symphony was performed in the two concerts and most members of the audience were elderly, I believe that the symphony orchestras’ decisions to perform works that are not symphonic is their method of recognizing the evolving tastes of the community. Presenting a wide range of musical works may be a way to continue the tradition of the symphony without being too rigid—a diverse repertory may appeal to more, and perhaps younger, audiences. A symphony orchestra that does not play symphonies for one concert may not necessarily lose their identity if they can attract new audiences and introduce them to symphonies at
The program notes are especially helpful in providing audiences with a wide range of musical knowledge a chance to understand the significance of a piece. The name of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra’s performance, “Harp Magic,” may seem too feminine compared to the symphony, which has often been considered “heroic” and masculine in the past, but I feel that it was an attempt to spark the interest of young people who may have been intrigued by the unique program title. In addition, there has been more ways for younger audiences to discuss the performances. The UMS (University Musical Society), which sponsored the Montreal Symphony Orchestra’s performance, has the UMS Lobby, a website where people can talk about the concert they have seen or where people who are simply curious can see other people’s thoughts about a performance. Having used this resource, I think this is a valuable and modern way for the sponsoring institution to engage with a wide range of people because it is highly accessible. With this resource, people can interact with the music as well as the music lovers that may have had a similar experience but a different