World-renowned double bassist Dominik Wagner played alongside the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 11.
Nathan Fenwick, the principal horn player in the orchestra, said that playing in the company of such a decorated musician was an exciting experience.
Kate Christensen, who plays the oboe in the orchestra, shared how impressed she was by Wagner's skills.
"I never knew a bass could sound like that. The music didn’t just flow out of him; he was the music,” Christensen said.
The audience was equally impressed with Wagner’s expertise, giving the artist multiple standing ovations before the night was over.
During the show, Wagner explained the different paths he has taken in his musical career, including time performing across Europe in famed orchestras.
The BYU Philharmonic Orchestra witnessed Wagner’s care and attention to detail in his craft during rehearsal, Fenwick said.
Christensen explained that when a special guest comes to perform with the orchestra, they usually arrive two to three days before rehearsals.
To prepare for Wagner, “we had a student bassist and our bass professor play along with the orchestra, offering helpful feedback and points on how to shape certain lines and sections,” Christensen said.
In order to play such complex pieces with ease, the musicians of BYU’s Philharmonic Orchestra need to have practiced their personal parts even before the first rehearsal, Fenwick said.
“We only had two brief hours with (Wagner) to put the bass concerto together before the concert, but he used the time extremely efficiently and was able to help us play our best despite the short rehearsal time,” Fenwick said.
For the performance, the orchestra carried out three musical pieces: Olympic Fanfare and Theme by John Williams, Double Bass Concerto, Op. 3 by Serge Koussevitzky and Symphony No. 3 by Aaron Copland.
Christensen shared that she had a unique experience playing alongside Wagner.
“There is a oboe solo that I got to play that is interwoven with the bass line. Playing it alongside Dominic felt like a conversation between friends, and each rehearsal and practice session was a chance to express something new in that conversation,” she said.
Christensen said the ensemble as a whole worked together “to create meaningful conversations and connections through this music.”
For Christensen, her favorite part of the performance was the second movement of the concerto, since it is “very dainty, light and full of vivid imagery and colors throughout.”
Fenwick felt immense satisfaction in playing Copland’s 3rd Symphony with his fellow brass musicians, knowing all the hard work they put into practice was paying off.
“The trumpet, horn, trombone and tuba parts are really tricky, but they all spent hours making sure it would sound great,” Fenwick said.
Fenwick and Christensen felt blessed and grateful for their opportunity to learn from Wagner and perform in this orchestra.
"Who else gets to hang out with their friends on a Friday night while playing incredible music for a full concert hall? I’m living the dream,” Fenwick said.