Thank you Judith and Bill Scheide for Your Kindness and Generosity

To the Editor:

Princeton's beloved couple, Judith and Bill Scheide, invited the community to Princeton University's Richardson Auditorium to celebrate Bill's 98th birthday, on January 27.     

Fittingly, Friday was also Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 256th birthday and the Wiener KammerOrchester (Vienna Chamber Orchestra), under the expert and innovative direction of Mark Laycock, former director of the Princeton Symphony, opened the evening with the ever-popular "Overture to The Marriage of Figaro."     

A highlight of the evening was the first concert performance of Brahms' newly rediscovered one-page composition, "Albumblatt in A Minor" by pianist Andrew Sun whose youth, talent and deft interpretationelicited "bravos"and enthusiastic applause.     

Beethoven's "Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92" showcased the Wiener KammerOrchester's virtuosity. Of particular note was the dynamic performance of the engaging Concert Master, Lily Francis, who hopefully will offer a solo performance in the future. From my years living in Vienna, I observed that in contrast to many traditional Austrian orchestras, the Wiener KammerOrchester has many female and young members.      

Maestro Laycock's introduction to the Special Birthday Version of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" delighted the audience and his grand finale arrangement of the masterpiece for the Wiener KammerOrchester rocked the hall and added frosting to Bill's birthday cake.       

On behalf of the entire Princeton community, I would like to thank Judith and Bill for their kindness and generosity and for letting us share in this very special Birthday.     

Linda Sipprelle      

Princeton