Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra

The KCO’s performance of “Musical Tales and Adventures” on January 16, 2010, in the World Financial Center Winter Garden drew a huge audience -- 1,500, according to WFC staff. Every seat was filled and almost every patch of marble staircase was occupied.

Photo by Adam Hume, www.Adamimage.com

Fans came with great anticipation to hear Sergei Prokofiev’s charming “Peter And The Wolf” narrated by renowned author Neil Gaiman. As the flute chirped the first bird notes, children began to tiptoe to the front of the Winter Garden. One by one they were ushered under the ropes by security guards to sit entranced before the stage, listening to the story of the brave boy and his adventure.

Photo by Robert Simko, www.ebroadsheet.com

Bravos and a roar of approval met the world premiere performance of KCO Music Director Gary S. Fagin’s composition “And Bold To Fall Withal (Henry Hudson In The New World),” featuring Broadway star Jason Danieley singing the story of Henry Hudson’s arrival in New York Harbor 400 years ago. Click here for the libretto of "And Bold To Fall Withal." Click here for a two-minute audio excerpt of the piece, recording at the Winter Garden on January 16, 2010.

Photo by Adam Hume, www.Adamimage.com

The rapt audience listened in absolute silence to Charles Ives’ “The Unanswered Question,” tapped their toes to Duke Ellington’s jazzy “Up And Down, Up And Down,” and danced in the aisles to Tchaikovsky’s waltz from the opera “Eugene Onegin.”

After the concert, many KCO fans repaired to Southwest restaurant to celebrate at a reception. At right are KCO founder and music director Gary S. Fagin flanked by Neil Gaiman at left and Jason Danieley at right.

Photo by Robert Simko.

If you missed this wonderful concert but are inspired by its tremendous success, we invite you to help support the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra. And if you were in the Winter Garden on January 16, you’ll remember the buoyant feeling at the end of the evening. Musical excellence has that effect. Click here to help us fund more wonderful concerts and to bring more interactive presentations to downtown schools. And don’t miss the next KCO concert, Friday evening, April 23 at the intimate, historic John Street United Methodist Church!