Rain can’t stop the symphony’s sound

Since the early '80s, UCF has hosted Symphony Under the Stars, an  event that displays new and renowned talent within and outside of the student body.

Keeping with tradition, the event was held at UCF on Thursday night.

Preparation for the starry night, usually held by the Reflecting Pond, is strenuous and begins months in advance.

"Weather planning is key," said UCF professor and director Laszlo Marosi. "When the weather is nice, we have large crowds. When it is windy and cold, not so much."

On Thursday night, the weather was indecipherable. The sun shone bright during the early afternoon, but looming, ominous clouds, appearing within hours of the performance, prompted Marosi and the music department to move the festive event into the Pegasus Ballroom.

Despite the change in venue, the ballroom was packed, standing-room only, and the night belonged to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, a Russian composer. The orchestra, composed of music and non-music majors as well as members of the community, performed two of Tchaikovsky's pieces, the first of which was Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Minor, OP. 23.

UCF Professor of Piano and Chair of the Piano Studies Laurent Boukobza arrived late, prompting a pause in the program. He was featured in this piece on piano in addition to the orchestra. After a prolonged standing ovation, Boukobza, in tears, shared the memory of his first time hearing the concerto. "I was 10 and a half when I began playing piano, and when I heard this piece, I cried …."

The next performance, Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, OP. 36, proved to be just as impressive and extravagant.

Before beginning, Marosi told the audience that the piece was a roller coaster of pitches, rhythms, and volume, as it was a reflection of Tchaikovsky's own life.

The performance ranged from hard-hitting, reverberating, and jolting, to playful, childlike, and doting to a section in which the musicians plucked their strings in an almost hypnotic fashion.

By the end of the night, the crowd was fascinated by the amount of talent and dedication the orchestra displayed. "It was really amazing," freshman economics major Jessica Fears said. "They were really intense."

It was not uncommon to see strings breaking and snapping during the most dramatic parts of the performance.

When asked what he wanted for those that attended Symphony Under the Stars, Marosi replied, "I hope for a wonderful evening that would cause everyone to want to come back again, because we work hard."

After the symphony's display of talent, there was no doubt that Thursday was a night for the stars, even if the event couldn't be under them.