A summer night, a clear sky, almost no bugs,  and a comfortable temperature can make an outdoor concert a highly enjoyable experience. Such was the case for theVermont Symphony Orchestra's performance  at Quechee's Polo Field. The orchestra's 65 musicians, led by director Kate Tamarkin, played some agreeable warhorses.

One can  hardly fail to please a crowd, most of whom are in their forties or over, with compositions like Shostakovitch's Festive Overture,  Gershwin's American in Paris and Haydn's Trumpet Concerto in E Major. This highly popular  piece was played by David Bilger of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

The highlight of the July  2nd evening was Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and while  there were no cannon, the orchestra played with gusto and the fireworks at the end were fitting.

Tickets for an event such  as this cost $20.00 and are well worth it. Sixty-five musicians playing in  unison, backed up by a fairly sophisticated sound system, have a powerful  effect. The thick woods surrounding the polo field give it an amphitheater-like  quality.

The orchestra plays in seven other Vermont centers throughout early July concluding  in Stowe, at the Trapp Family Lodge on July 12th. There is usually an alternative indoor site, if rain is likely.

For those who are fussy  about their sound, I recommend you place yourself center  stage and as close to the orchestra's shell has possible. The sound is best  if you can position yourself so that you pick up more of the "real"  sound of the orchestra, rather than its electronic interpretation which is tiny and hard - all the things that a former hi-fi enthusiast will find almost unbearable. Go check out the sound difference yourself. I am sure you will  agree! :)

The  atmosphere at one of these occasions is genteeland sophisticated, with hardly a beer can in sight. Instead one brings deck chairs and a cooler and dines on pâté, perhaps smoked salmon and of course,  wine or champagne.

Timothy Palmer-Benson
Scenes of Vermont