Music to our Ears
Dallas Chamber Symphony brings new sounds to the classical music scene
It's not every day that a new arts group shows up in town, and rarer still when its specialty is classical music. But Dallas will get just that when the Dallas Chamber Symphony makes its debut at the equally new Dallas City Performance Hall on Tuesday, September 18.
Those less versed in the local classical music scene probably think of one organization when it comes to the genre: the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. It's also worth noting that DCS should not be confused with the Dallas Chamber Orchestra, which, according to its still-active website, last performed in 2010, or Dallas Chamber Music, which helps to present small string ensembles from around the world.
Although the DSO is a world-renowned group led by the incomparable Jaap van Zweden, performances can lack a certain intimacy, because the orchestra comprises close to 100 musicians. Dallas Chamber Symphony, on the other hand, is a chamber orchestra with fewer than 40 members. The music they perform won't be significantly different from that of the DSO, but with fewer instruments and a smaller venue — Dallas City Performance Hall only has 750 seats, compared to more than 2,000 at Meyerson Symphony Center — the sound most assuredly will be.
DCS plans to make a splash, putting on one of two Symphony Series concerts that display the full orchestra, for its entree into the Dallas fine-arts scene. The concert includes works from Mozart, Falla and Beethoven.
As the 2012-2013 season progresses, you can expect a variety of events, including a smaller concert with master pianist Alessio Bax and a live screening of the classic silent film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, with DCS providing the film's score. In the future, the group plans to integrate dance into some of its concerts, as well as offer smaller versions of opera and ballet, making good use of the City Performance Hall's flexibility.
The debut of the Dallas Chamber Symphony at Dallas City Performance Hall is a rare opportunity to witness two additions to the Dallas Arts District in one fell swoop. Whether or not classical music is your thing, that's a chance hard to pass up.
