First Night Northampton 2011
Below: Kevin Germain, oud soloist, rocking the house on the "Fantasy for Oud and Guitar Orchestra after Huseyni Saz Semaïsi (Tatyos Efendi)"
Above: The audience waits outside Smith College's Sweeney Concert Hall to hear HVGO.
Counting stopped at 600, though people kept
coming for long afterward.
Photos: Dave Harris-Fried
Upcoming Performances
Friday, February 10,
The Flywheel Arts Collective
Easthampton, MA

One of Western Massachusetts' most artistically committed venues hosts an evening with the area's most uncompromisingly original ensemble.

Music of Philip Glass, Led Zeppelin, Bela Bartok, Sonny Boy Williamson, Nino Rota,
Lady Gaga, Peter Blanchette.

with Special Opening Artist (TBA)
Friday & Saturday, May 4 & 5,
Northampton Center for the Arts Ballroom
Northampton, MA (7:30pm)

The annual unveiling of the orchestra's new repertoire in full.
First Night Northampton 2012 • John M. Greene Hall, Smith College
Spring HVGO Concerts, 2011 • Northampton Center for the Arts Ballroom
Over 500 people eagerly lined up, all down the street and around the corner, to attend HVGO's First Night Northampton 2012 show at John M. Greene Hall, Smith College.

They were not disappointed! HVGO performed with confidence and joy an utterly original program including music of Phillip Glass, Lady Gaga, Bela Bartok, Led Zeppelin, Nino Rota and Sonny Boy Williamson. This is just the kind of category-bursting menu of marvelous musical dishes HVGO is becoming known for.

First Night 2012's playlist spotlighted exotic flourishes on solo oud by Kevin Germain, colorful lead guitar (with vintage 1970s modulation effects) by Dan Thomas, a rock-solid bottom held down by bassist/concertmaster Aldo Fabrizi - all locked into the euphoric rhythm of Bill Klock on drums, tight and right behind Peter Blanchette's rousing conducting.

Playing Blanchette's arrangement of Estonian minimalist master Arvo Pärt's masterpiece, Fratres.
HVGO CD Release Concert • Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA
Previous HVGO performances