Southeast Symphony Sparkles at Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles

The African in America has left a definite and prosperous brand on American culture. But the ever changing world of Black awareness in this country has reached for even greater heights in recent days… CNN is now broadcasting a series entitled, “Black in America,” which airs nightly... Barack Obama gave a speech to over 200,000 cheering Germans in “Deutschland…” On a more local note, the Southeast Symphony, under the direction of Charles E. Dickerson, III celebrated its 60th year with a sold out concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra… Significant, indeed!

The Southeast Symphony was founded in 1948 with the expressed purpose of affording opportunities for musically inclined African Americans to play in a symphony orchestra. Since people of African descent were not allowed to join the established orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Pasadena Symphony, the Southeast Symphony provided the vital experience in the Greater Los Angeles Area for Black musicians with orchestral talent.

On July 20, 2008 the Disney Hall was filled to capacity… Better yet, on that date the Disney Hall was filled to capacity with African-Americans who love and appreciate the musings of George Gershwin as interpreted by Charles “Chuck” Dickerson and the Southeast Symphony Orchestra…

There are one thousand and one subtexts that could be written under this heading, however the one that counts most is this one: The Southeast Symphony of Los Angeles filled the Walt Disney Concert Hall with Black faces and polyphony that would have thrilled Gershwin himself while he took pride in knowing his music stood the test of time…

No orchestra sounded better, and I have experienced Bernstein personally. Under the direction of Dickerson the orchestra offered unblemished works of art to match the acoustically perfect ambiance… Each piece offered a different dimension of the composer as it also showed the sensitivity and understanding of the interpreter and conductor Dickerson…

“Cuban Overture” presented many challenges with its rhythmic patterns suggesting Cuban dance, and attention to musical color and instrumental technique. “An American in Paris,” beckoned me to those days when all seemed well and life was only about your favorite song. It has been a favorite of mine for life and perhaps would have been my most favored of the concert if I had to choose one.

Pianist Althea Waites, a graduate of Yale University School of Music, performed “Rhapsody in Blue” with soulful precision, and as a master musician who comprehends the alliances between classical and jazz interpretation.

Finally, the Southeast Symphony with soprano Victoria Burnett, and baritone Cedric Berry were joined by the chorus to perform venerated selections from “Porgy and Bess.” Ms Burnett, well known in the Los Angeles community of singers, balanced sophistication and musical radiance to add to the many fine solo performances as “Bess.” Mr. Berry, a performer with the Los Angeles Master Chorale and a "first place winner" of the Metropolitan Opera Western Region Competition, continued his musical prowess with renditions as “Porgy" and "Sportin' Life.”

Seekers of music can be its worse critics, but true musicians are angels among us capable of turning their listeners into true lovers of their art… Walt Disney Concert Hall found itself full of lovers and beautiful symphonic music. For a couple of hours we listeners believed that life was only about our favorite Gershwin symphonic pieces… We were willing to forget for a moment that 60 years ago this same Southeast Symphony was born out of discrimination towards black classical musicians in the Greater Los Angeles Area who could not find work…

Under the masterful direction of Charles E. Dickerson, III, all was well; all was peaceful. It was ALL Southeast Symphony…
BRAVO!

GM