On Sunday afternoon, Gene Pokorny gave an awe-inspiring recital at the Congregational Church in Middlebury, Vermont. He and his wife were visiting family in the area, and they put together a wonderful program, including, among some more familiar pieces, several movements from "Visions Fugitives" by Prokofiev, which Beth Lodal had arranged for tuba, "Wonderland Duets" by Raymond Luedeke, which Beth and Gene played together, a wonderful "Bible Bestiary" by Alexandra Pierce, which, like the Luedeke piece, incorporated poetry, and John Stevens' moving tribute to Tommy Johnson, "Monument".
It was phenomenal to hear Gene play the CSO York from ten feet away. I've carried around a concept of the "perfect sound" in my head for more than forty years, and when Gene played the first few notes of Comodo, I heard it out loud.
Absolutely made my year.
Thanks, Gene. Thanks, Beth. Your generosity and huge talents made the Green Mountains ring!
Sally "I think I'll go resonate" Larsen