Joyce Rudolph
Matthew Barker, 23, had a once-in-a- lifetime experience last
weekend. The Glendale bass player performed Sunday with the American
Youth Symphony in its first performance at the Walt Disney Concert
Hall in downtown Los Angeles.
One of the first things Barker said he noticed during the morning
dress rehearsal was the sensitivity of the acoustics.
"It is so well designed, the slightest sound can be heard crystal
clear across the hall," he said. "You have to adjust the way you
listen to the musicians playing [around you]. All the textures come
out and the result is almost a shock to the musicians. But, I mean, a
good shock."
Overall, the facility is stunning inside and out, he said.
From the audience's view point, looking at the stage, there is a
large, very elaborately designed organ as the centerpiece. The
musicians are surrounded by the audience, Barker said.
"It's an intimate feeling," he said. "You are engulfed by the
audience. You are more in touch with them, and they really are part
of the concert."
Barker is one of the veterans of the symphony, having joined five
years ago. He credits conductor/ music director Alexander Treger,
concertmaster with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, as the main reason
it is one of the better orchestras in town.
The orchestra's regular season is played inside Royce Hall at
UCLA, which Barker said, is a world-class hall. The money raised from
Sunday's concert and dinner will help underwrite the orchestra's
series of free concerts at Royce Hall. For concert schedule, call
(310) 234-8355.
Barker is the music librarian for classical radio station KUSC-FM
(91.5). He also is a collector of classical music recordings.
