On Sunday, March 22 at the Mello Center for the Performing Arts Director Daniel Stewart presented three works with depth of musical insight and orchestral precision that appealed to the audience. Due to a last minute flight change, soloist Youjin Lee had to leave for Japan and the Beethoven Violin Concerto was performed first.
The timpani opening by John Weeks was admirable as was the horn playing by Susan Vollmer and Leslie Hart. Soloist Youjin Lee’s performance of the Beethoven was magically fragrant, songful and rich in light and shade. The thematic material under the keen ear of Maestro Stewart provided a splendid dialogue between orchestra and soloist throughout the work. The cadenzas selected by Ms. Lee continued to communicate on the highest of artistic terms, especially in the third movement. Her interpretive depth and astutely applied spectrum of dynamic balance, timbre and compelling lyricism blended beautifully under Stewart’s guidance.
Lou Harrison’s Pacifika Rondo (1963) was the second work of the afternoon and consisted of seven movements: I. Family of the Court II A Play of Dolphins III. Lotus IV. In Sequoia’s Shade V. Netzahualcoyotl Builds a Pyramid VI. Hatred of the Filthy Bomb and VII. From the Dragon Pool.
Lou Harrison has become the Aptos Icon of contemporary music. Lou’s curiosity about the musical instruments employed in the wide circle of the Pacific Rim moved him and his partner Bill Colvig to develop and construct instruments that would become the focus of many of his compositions. A plethora of musical instruments are used in Pacifika Rondo: organ, small fipple flutes, miguk p’iri (Korean double reed instrument), pak (Korenwooden clapper), changgo (Korean hourglass drum), daiko (Japanese barrel drum) jalatataranga (Hindu bowls tuned with water) and many more exotic percussion instruments from the orient. All of these instruments created textures that reflected unique Asian sounds and timbers.
The first movement of Sinfonia, Fantasia opened with a violin arpeggio on the note “G” followed by ascending lines that led into a section of high rhythmic percussive energy on a palette of many musical colors that modulated into numerous delightful textures. The strings picked up the rhythm-driven pulse while the brass section echoed lines with a contrapuntal magnetic pull as if they were attempting to defy gravity. An international mix followed with a Spanish flare in the trumpets, a dash of klezmer by the brass for good measure that transcended into a moment of atmospherics broken by thunderous, loudly accented percussion by the timpani and large bass drum. This musical moment liquidated into practical silence and more atmospherics by the flutes.
The second movement designated Rondo rides on 6/8 and 7/4 metric structures that introduces a beautifully designed lyrical string section that offers brush strokes of “Mahleresque” reflections that further develop in the last Invocation movement.
Invocation developed with a delightful performance by oboist Peter Lemberg and English Horn by Adrienne Malley. Sinfonia is a most interesting, well thought out composition that will enjoy many future performances.
Maestro Stewart once again made his usual congratulatory round of appreciation through the inspired orchestra. In addition, maestro Stewart revealed the exciting 2015-16 concert season that received a hardy round of approval by the audience!