{"id":15960,"date":"2025-10-26T20:34:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-26T20:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/15960\/"},"modified":"2025-10-26T20:34:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-26T20:34:09","slug":"farrenc-mozart-and-handel-shine-in-berks-sinfoniettas-music-in-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/15960\/","title":{"rendered":"Farrenc, Mozart, and Handel shine in Berks Sinfonietta\u2019s \u201cMusic in C\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Saturday evening, music lovers gathered at Atonement Lutheran Church in Wyomissing for Berks Sinfonietta\u2019s latest concert, Music in C. The program explored the expressive range of the key of C major and minor, featuring works by Mozart, Handel, and the long-overlooked French composer Louise Farrenc.<\/p>\n

The church provided an intimate yet resonant setting. The blend of strings and winds filled the sanctuary with a warmth and clarity that carried beautifully through the space. The performance balanced energy and elegance, showcasing the ensemble\u2019s precision while highlighting the rich textures of the music. With its close connection between players and listeners, the concert offered both intimacy and grandeur, highlighting Berks Sinfonietta\u2019s homegrown artistry.<\/p>\n

The evening opened with Handel\u2019s Concerto Grosso in C Major, HWV 318 \u201cAlexander\u2019s Feast\u201d. Full of festive spirit and dramatic flair, the piece immediately set a celebratory tone. The ensemble, led by Jennifer Sternick, brought out both the regal flourishes and the lyrical slower sections, giving the audience a lively and colorful introduction to the night.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Mozart\u2019s Symphony No. 28 in C Major, K. 200 followed under the baton of guest conductor Dr. Rick Barrantes Ag\u00fcero. Bright and playful, the symphony sparkled with youthful charm and rhythmic vitality. The graceful second movement gave way to a spirited minuet, while the final presto carried an energy that showcased the Sinfonietta\u2019s tight ensemble playing.<\/p>\n

After intermission, the program concluded with Louise Farrenc\u2019s Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 32, conducted by Artistic Director Dr. David A. McConnell. Bold, dramatic, and full of sweeping themes, the work revealed a symphonic voice as assured as it was overlooked for far too long. Its lyrical second movement and vigorous finale made a striking impression, leaving the audience with a sense of both discovery and admiration.<\/p>\n

Violinist and board member Thuy Nguyen reflected on what makes performing with Berks Sinfonietta special. \u201cIt\u2019s always like meeting with old friends and making music,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s really nice to see all of our hard work throughout the week come to fruition and to share our love for music with our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Audience members responded enthusiastically with a standing ovation. Music in C was more than a concert \u2014 it was a demonstration of Berks Sinfonietta\u2019s role in both preserving beloved classics and reintroducing hidden gems. With a dedicated group of professional and emerging musicians, the orchestra continues to present performances that feel both accessible and world-class to local audiences.<\/p>\n

Berks Sinfonietta will return in the new year with \u201cSoloists A Round\u201d on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at Atonement Lutheran Church. The program will feature Mozart\u2019s Concerto for Bassoon in B-flat Major with soloist Joshua Schairer, Concerto for Flute No. 1 in G Major with soloist Suzanne Francis, Rounds for String Orchestra by David Diamond, and Ruth Gipps\u2019 Jane Grey, Fantasy for Viola and String Orchestra with soloist Kathleen Bahena. For more information, visit berkssinfonietta.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"On Saturday evening, music lovers gathered at Atonement Lutheran Church in Wyomissing for Berks Sinfonietta\u2019s latest concert, Music…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15961,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[128,130,129],"class_list":["post-15960","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-reading","tag-reading-city","tag-reading-city-headlines","tag-reading-city-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15960","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15960"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15960\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15961"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15960"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15960"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15960"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}