Listening to a live orchestra has an uncharted feeling of  excitement.  The sound of the instruments tuning up in unison is like the soundtrack to a sun rising above quiet waters. UMKC’s orchestra embraces this sense of levity and liveliness in its performances. On Jan. 30, UMKC’s Conservatory Chamber Orchestra, directed by Music Professor Robert Olson, performed pieces by composers Haydn, Weismann and Dvorak after just a week of preparation. The first piece performed was Joseph Haydn’s 1791 work, Symphony No. 96, “The Miracle.”  The music joyously jumped  around the auditorium, leaping over the seats in a fever of excitement and spectacle. The symphony was given the nickname “The Miracle” after an incident when a chandelier in the concert hall fell from the ceiling during a performance  The audience managed to dodge the … Read entire article »