The Lamont Symphony Orchestra presented an exciting and well executed concert featuring compositions from Johann Sebastian Bach, Pablo de Saraste and Anotonin DvorCB!k last Tuesday at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts to a packed audience.

The highlight of the evening was guest performances by a father-son musical team. Lawrence Golan, the music director and conductor of the orchestra, joined his father, Joseph Golan, retired second principal violin of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on compositions for the violin.

Their spirited “Navarra; Danza Espangole, Op. 33,” written by de Saraste, exemplified the skill of the two Golans as the seemingly racing violin duet was punctuated by the brass section. This offered a great contrast and gave the composition texture and increased the pleasures of listening to the lively rendition..

The most expansive piece of the evening was DvorCB!k’s “Symphony No. 9, Op. 95 From the New World.”

The first movement ebbed and flowed giving it motion akin to rises and falls. The French horn was featured prominently in the first section. Its loud brassy sound really focused the audience’s attention to the piece right away with sounds that were impossible to ignore.

The second movement had a hauntingly slow theme. But the tempo rose steadily never letting the music stand still. The music gave the piece a relaxed and peaceful feeling.

In the third movement the Lamont Orchestra switched moods completely with the lively and lighthearted section. While the music was exuberant and seemed to tumble, it never overly rushed.

The movement highlights the oboe and the English horn, played masterfully by Lara Gobins, a graduate student. Her performance captured the essence of the piece through her sensitive playing and expressive body movements.

The fourth and final movement started with a suspenseful opening that built up to a spirited finale. The music repeatedly grew quiet and built to a giant swell several time before coming to a dramatic close with the brass, the strings and the timpani all sounding with confidence.

The symphony was conducted by Golan which he did with an appropriate amount of flair and confidence.

Another selection was Barber’s “First Essay for Orchestra.” The piece allowed the orchestra to show off its skills with what sounded like a complicated blending of strings and brass. These two types of sounds were effective in having this composition seem multi-faceted.

Simone Tartaglione, a student conductor, conducted and said in opening remarks that it is “one of the most expressive pieces ever made.”

The evening was supposed to feature a guest conductor, Mario Mareus from Portugal. He was unable to conduct due to an unforeseen family illness.