It was a night full of fantastic tunes and passionate artists at the Wray Theater on April 5. Jannine Livingston, a professor of music here at Rio Hondo College, joined creative forces with fellow professors Steve Moshier and Frank Accardo, and violinist Donna Accardo to bring École De Musique Fantastique: An Evening of Beautiful Music to the Wray Theatre.

Even before the talent graced the stage, a romantic mood could be felt upon walking into the theater. A large red curtain hung from the ceiling and gently glazed the bottom of the jet-black stage, creating an elegant ambiance as a large, gold chandelier finished the look. In the middle of the stage a piano, an amplifier, and vibraphone waited patiently to be played. Then the lights dimmed – it was time for the magic to begin.

The night began with Concerto for Oboe, a piece said to be written by Benedetto Marcello. Livingston played piano while Accardo sat next to her with violin in hand. Both musicians worked well at accompanying one another and the piece came together naturally. Though the loud chords from and booming notes from the percussion instrument could have easily outplayed the soft sounds of the violin, it never happened. Accardo’s precise bowing and beauteous vibrato shined brightly alongside the quick-handed Livingston.

Additional string instruments made their way to be heard along with the piano-extraordinaire. Frank Accardo brought his prowess at classical guitar to the stage when the two played Sonata in g minor for Guitar and Cembalo. Though this piece was not originally created for guitar, the arrangement still worked beautifully for the guitarist. Accardo and Livingston were harmonious from beginning to end. The pair stayed together on every beat and did not miss a note, making their chemistry on stage most intriguing.

Throughout the concert, Livingston welcomed the talent of both Frank and Donna Accardo back to the stage to help her continue filling the Wray Theater with serene – and at other times fiery – compositions. Toward the end of the show, all three musicians made their way to the stage and played as a trio for songs such as L’Histoire du Soldat (The Soldier’s Tale) by Igor Stravinsky and Three Tangos by Astor Piazzolla. The triple part of Piazzolla’s composition was most intriguing to witness being executed by the three musicians. At times all three instruments argued against each other, but then quickly came back to flow side-by-side.

Finally, the night ended with one last professor added to the trio to make a quartet – Steve Moshier on the vibraphone. Unlike the previous songs that were played that night, Exit on Venus was a composition penned by Moshier himself specifically for the night’s ensemble. Reminiscent of old fantastical, science-fiction fashion, the piece was mostly played in pairs -guitar and piano, violin and vibraphone – and then mixed together.

Nothing stopped the musicians from making this evening of beautiful music successful and it was an event that was to be remembered.