University of Hamburg Orchestra Delights Audience With Concert at Santiago’s Main Theatre

Santiago de los Caballeros, March 23, 2018 – The University of Hamburg Orchestra, during its first to the Dominican Republic, delighted an enthusiastic audience that attended the first of two concerts performed in the country with a wonderful repertoire of musical pieces that honored the concert’s title: “A Symphony of Two Worlds.” The second concert was held in Santo Domingo’s “Eduardo Brito” National Theater, on March 26

The series of concerts scheduled during their tour to the Dominican Republic also included the presentation of three additional orchestras, all members of the National System of Children’s and Youth Symphony Orchestras sponsored by the Ministry of Culture.

During the opening ceremony, the members of the Children’s and Youth orchestras of Santiago – the country’s second largest city – and of the Hamburg University Orchestra played the national anthems of the Dominican Republic and Germany.

In their debut performance, the Children’s and Youth Orchestras played the Emperor’s Waltz and the Ode to Joy, from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

After that special performance, the true musical exchange between both orchestras began to take place when musicians from the German and Dominican orchestras began to exchange musicians and directors. The musical experience thrilled the packed auditorium, which applauded with a standing ovation the innovative exchange of musicians.

Musicians from both nationalities also executed pieces composed by Dominican and German authors.

After the Hamburg Orchestra interpreted the musical piece Finland, Opus 26, the audience gave the musicians another standing ovation not only for their performance but also to welcome them to the country.

Another unforgettable moment was the interpretation by of the “Concierto de Aranjuez,” which featured Dominican classical guitarist Excier Rodriguez, who is currently residing in Denver, Colorado.

The musical program also included a performance by the “Filarmónica Appasionato,” interpreting “Haydn Seek,” “Fire Conga,” “Huapango,” Danzón Número 2,” and the popular merengue “Caña Brava.” This particular segment included musicians from the National Youth Orchestra and the Hamburg University Orchestra, as well as Santiago’s Children’s Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Thomas Posth.

The concert program, as well as the workshops held to benefit the members of the National System of Children’s and Youth Orchestras – headed by the Vice Minister of Culture Cayo Claudio Espinal – were sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and the German Embassy in the country.

In total, some 250 Dominican and German musicians – under the director of Maestros Alberto Rincon, head of the National System and Thomas Posth, from the University of Hamburg, participated in the gala event.

Maestro Rincon and Sabine Bloch, the German Ambassador in the country, thanked both the attending audience as well as the sponsors who made these concerts and cultural exchange possible.