The Ars Flores Symphony Orchestra. - CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
IF MOSES Encore was not already expected to be the most extravagant musical production of the year, the accompaniment now of the Ars Flores Symphony Orchestra definitely gives it that title.
The Ars Flores Symphony Orchestra of South Florida will be playing at the Moses Encore shows being staged by Father Ho Lung and Friends between May 19-21 and the following weekend.
The orchestra is a conservatory of professional and gifted secondary school students rehearsing and performing together. Their mission is to develop music professionals through mentoring and performance, while fostering community interest in the arts. The 30-person group will be a full orchestra complete with violin, cello, flute clarinet, trumpet, trombone, percussion and other instruments
Though specialising in classical music, a representative of the orchestra says the Afro-Caribbean mix of the production is no problem. "Our orchestra is able to play anything that is written in front of them," Dr. Lynn Luce, artistic director, told The Gleaner. She says the group was sent a compact disc of songs from the production, from which they will develop their pieces.
"Our associate conductor, Maria Perez-Rudisill, is finishing up the orchestration pieces," Luce said. These have to be written from scratch since there was none for Moses.
Ars Flores has a reputation of joining with humanitarian organisations in collaborative, donated performances to raise funds for charitable purposes. As such, their partnership with Father Ho Lung and Friends, is no surprise.
ORCHESTRA
The orchestra performed in Jesus 2000 productions both locally and overseas, an experience the director says they enjoyed. Rudisill also did orchestrations for Amazing Grace.
This year, the orchestra is paying their own way for Moses Encore. "They're doing it all voluntarily," Father Richard Ho Lung said.
"We've fallen in love," Dr. Luce said. "Everybody admires what Father Richard is doing. Others have gone before, and some just want to go."
The production Moses had run in 2004. Some of the songs have been rewritten and some of the characters changed for Moses Encore which according to Father Ho Lung helps to make the production tighter.
