Music Society Season Opener Take3 fused Bach with classic rock, pop and Moon River

Julie Reeder

Publisher

The Fallbrook Music Society opened its 46th Season Sunday, Aug. 27, with the female music trio Take3 to a full crowd in the Mission Theater. The classically trained performers combined their rock star charisma in beautiful sequin outfits playing Bach and Beethoven, fused with classic rock, pop and favorites such as Moon River and songs from West Side Story.

Their tagline "Where rock meets Bach" was a fitting description.The crowd responded to their performance with rapturous applause and a standing ovation.

Violinist Lindsay Deutsch, who also provided a fun stage presence, said that the Mission Theater is one of their favorite venues and they were looking forward to returning in the future. The pianist, Alexa Constatine, complimented the piano saying it was a pleasure to play. The third musician was Mikala Schmitz on cello.

All the ladies had quite a stage presence, mixing their arousing and melodic pieces with some light comedy and storytelling.

Most of the music society concerts will be held this season at the 300-seat historic Mission Theater in downtown Fallbrook, which provides the community with a live performance stage as well as a movie theater. It's an intimate setting where every seat in the house is good.

When Deutsch isn't performing for the Fallbrook Music Society or on a cruise ship, she is touring with Yanni as the featured violin soloist on nearly every continent.

While Take3 was performing on an Iceland cruise, they ran into Bonsall resident Jeannie Miller. She said they were so well received on the cruise that word spread quickly and their remaining shows were full. While in conversation with Take3 on the cruise, Miller figured out that they would be coming to Fallbrook and she committed to attending the performance. They called for her in the crowd and she stood up.

One of the last pieces performed was from Schindler's List. Deutsch explained that she also performs with the group Violins of Hope.

Violins of Hope was started by Amnon Weinstein, who first encountered a violin from the Holocaust over 50 years ago as a young violin maker in Israel. Someone brought him an old instrument in terrible condition and wanted it restored. The man had played the violin on the way to the gas chamber, but he survived because the Germans needed him for their death camp orchestra. He hadn't played it since.

Weinstein began restoring violins saved from the Holocaust and now has restored dozens of instruments for a Violins of Hope display. Violins of Hope is also a project of concerts based on this private collection of violins, violas and cellos, all collected since the end of World War II. Take3 violinist Deutsch has played with them twice so far.

No doubt Take3 will return to Fallbrook in the future.

For the remainder of the Fallbrook Music Society season, the upcoming shows include:

Santa Barbara Trio, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m.

Rastrelli Cello Quartet, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m.

YU&I, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m.

Scott Wilkie Quartet "JOY" Christmas Concert, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m.

"BACH TO BEATLES", Jan. 21, 2024 at 2 p.m.

Quarteto Nuevo, Feb. 18, 2024 at 2 p.m.

Redlands Symphony – Vivaldi's Four Seasons – Piazzolla/Four Seasons of

Buenos Aires, April 7, 2024 at 2 p.m.

The Fallbrook Music Society is a 501c3 nonprofit that provides local residents the highest level of classically trained performers through a series of local concerts that are free or a nominal fee of $20.

In addition to providing local residents with high quality public concerts, Fallbrook Music Society also considers an important part of their mission to inspire and enrich the lives of every child in the community through access to high quality music appreciation and education.

It is the only organization in rural North San Diego County that fulfills unmet musical cultural needs, reaching area residents and students of all socio-economic, ethnic and educational backgrounds with high-quality music and music education.

For information on upcoming performances, go to http://www.fallbrookmusicsociety.org.