Symphony
FROM THE NEW WORLD TO THE OLD WORLD
by Peter Lert
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Chamber
MC2 DUO RECITAL CLOSES 222'S SEASON
by Terry McNeill
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Choral and Vocal
CANTIAMO SONOMA'S LUSCIOUS A CAPELLA SINGING IN SEASON ENDING CONCERT
by Pamela Hicks Gailey
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Symphony
SRS SEASON ENDS WITH RESOUNDING TA-TA-TA-BANG
by Terry McNeill
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Symphony
YOUTHFUL VIRTUOSITY ON DISPLAY AT USO'S MAY CONCERTS
by Peter Lert
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Symphony
MYSTICAL PLANETS AND LIVELY GERSHWIN ORTIZ AT FINAL SRS CONCERT
by Peter Lert
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Symphony
VSO'S CONCERT MUSIC OF TIME, MUSIC OF PLACE
by Peter Lert
Sunday, April 27, 2025
VOCAL ELEGANCE AND FIRE AT THE 222'S RECITAL APRIL 26
by Pamela Hicks Gailey
Saturday, April 26, 2025
CANTIAMO SONOMA SINGS AN INSPIRED GOOD FRIDAY MOZART REQUIEM CONCERT
by Pamela Hicks Gailey
Friday, April 18, 2025
DRAMATIC SHOSTAKOVICH SYMPHONY CLOSES PHILHARMONIC'S 25TH SEASON
by Terry McNeill
Sunday, April 13, 2025
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 Organist Dorothy Young Riess |
"DR. DOROTHY" CHARMS CAS ORGAN RECITAL AUDIENCE
by James Harrod
Sunday, March 22, 2015
The silver clad dancing feet of organist Dorothy Young Riess brought excitement and inspiration to organ enthusiasts March 22 at Resurrection Santa Rosa’s Resurrection Church. Standing tall and straight, poised and beautiful, in sparkling silver and black attire, this 84-year old virtuoso musician, physician, swimmer and grandmother calmly and confidently presented a perfect organ recital.
"Dr. Dorothy," as she is known at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, played an instructive and entertaining program of organ classics as well as of her own compositions. In this recital Ms. Riess demonstrated complete security and personal intimacy with the music and the instrument. The artist played with absolute accuracy, gentle and mellow phrasing, and flawless pedal technique. The eyes of the audience were riveted on her athletic and totally secure pedal playing throughout the performance. Not one note was out of place.
The program was ambitious with one exemplary work each of Buxtehude, Bach, Beethoven, Wagner-Liszt, Langlais, Jehan Alain, Karg-Elert and herself. She confidently informed the audience about each of her program selections in turn.
Her own musical inventiveness was heard in her transcription for the organ of Beethoven's Adagio Cantabile (from his C Minor Op. 13 Piano Sonata) and by four of her own improvisations of familiar hymn tunes. Particularly crowd-pleasing was a totally bonkers boogie-woogie rendition of "What a Friend We have in Jesus" and a cleanly intelligent jazz interpretation of "A Mighty Fortress."
What a delight and privilege to meet this beautiful lady. At the end of her recital "Dr. Dorothy" invited the audience to her organ recital May 20, 2016, (her 85th year) at her University. I plan to be there!
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