Virée classique 2024 – The Symphony of the Virée: Not So Amateurs After All

Now a tradition, the Symphonie de la Virée is a concert bringing together amateur musicians of all ages who have been selected in advance. Rafael Payare leads the ensemble for the last work on the program.

This event is living proof that professionals do not have a monopoly on good musical product and that with a lot of passion and a little work, we can achieve a frankly convincing result. Let’s look beyond individual errors and small imbalances to look at the whole thing as a whole. It’s not because they are amateurs that they can’t make great music.

There is a cohesion that holds in this ensemble. Conductor Adam Johnson breathes a contagious energy. We feel the work of listening done in rehearsal; the violin and oboe solos have enough space for lyricism and expression. The sound is homogeneous and the dynamics are respected to the letter, as much in terms of nuances, phrasing and articulation.

As Payare takes the reins for the opening of the opera Nabucco, he proves what a great conductor he is and raises the bar. Like Johnson before him, he makes no compromises on anything. He pushes the audacity to take the coda at breakneck speed and the musicians respond.

In the future, don’t hesitate to go to the concert of the neighbor who plays in the Monday night band. There is a good chance that, for a handful of dollars, you will have a good time.