When it comes to classical music, I am merely one of the masses. Yes, I played in the high school band and know my way around an orchestra, but that's as far as my music education goes. So, although the theme of tonight's program is pairings, the subtext is whimsy and it is that part of the program that captivates me.

The musical pairings in tonight's program, Mirror Imaging, at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts, range from two orchestras to two girls at the beach and the featured pairing of New York Philharmonic's violinist Anna Rabinova and flutist Robert Langevin.

Music director, Ron Spigelman knows how to pique an audience's curiousity. He keeps his notes succinct and pertinent, pointing out interesting tidbits about the composers and/or their work. He describes the first composer by saying, "You are the 11th child of Johann Sebastian Bach..." J.C. Bach was only 15 when his prolific father died. Then Spigelman explains why we see a divided orchestra on stage. (That question plagued audience members before the concert. I heard at least one gentleman comment, "There's only one cello in the orchestra." The woman with him quietly points out the second one across the stage.) The piece was written for two orchestras and Spigelman has divided the Sinfonietta in two to perform the antiphonal Sinfonnia Op. 18 No 1 in E flat by J.C. Bach. In the first movement, I especially enjoy the orchestral punctuations of the oboe and bassoon. The next movement has me mesmerized with the light and airy tones emanating from the string section of orchestra 1.

Next is the featured pairing of soloists from the New York Philharmonic: Anna Rabinova on violin and Robert Langevin on flute. According to program notes, Rabinova joined the Philharmonic in 1994, two years after she arrived in the US from her native Russia. Langevin joined the NY Philharmonic as principal flute at the beginning of the 2000-2001 season. Tonight they are paired in the Concerto for Flute, Violin and Orchestra by Bohuslav Martinu. Spigelman shares some thoughts on the composer, "when I think of Martinu, I think about going to a buffet with 200 items...It's a conglomeration of styles in a neo-classical vein." Another interesting tidbit he offers is that Burt Bacharach studied with this composer. The piece begins in a playful manner, a lively conversation which turns soulful and more melodic. At some point, I can't suppress the mental image of musical hiccups. As a whole, it is stirring and evocative and a wonderful showcase of amazing talent. It is especially intimate to observe the way Rabinova and Langevin work together. There are nods and knowing smiles as one finishes off a solo challenge to the other.

The second half of the program begins on another playful note with Two Girls at the Beach by Michael Torke. The conductor walks on stage shaking out a colorful beach towel which he places around his neck as he narrates verbally while a quintet of flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and French horn, plays out the scenario. There some unexpected pauses as the girls decideto move further on the beach. I love the expressive eyebrows of the French horn player and how the oboe plays out the "hot feet."

The evening ends with Haydn's Symphony No. 47 in G Major. Spigelman explains to us that the third movement is a musical palindrome with passages moving twice forward and twice backward.

The affable demeanor of the conductor is as infectious as the music he has chosen for the evening.

There are more themed Lake Placid Sinfonietta concerts coming up this summer. Click through to the web site for the dates, times, and locations. And make sure to check back to the Lake Placid Events page to keep up with the many summer arts events in the area.

Kathleen Recchia has been enjoying the arts in the Adirondacks for about 20 years—both as observer and participant (acting, directing, and producing). She also enjoys cross-country skiing, juggling, and hosting visitors to the area at her bed & breakfast in Jay.