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Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall 5/28 This, the last concert of the Severance Hall 2008-2009 season, began with the world premiere of an intriguingly titled “On Comparative Meteorology” by Johannes Maria Staud (b. 1974). Although it was inspired by a series of short stories by Bruno Schulz (according to Staud), any narrative (or educational) thread wasn’t apparent. The work was a pleasant, kinda post-post modern exploration of sonar possibilities for full orchestra. It only lasted 15 minutes. After intermission we settled in for Gustav Mahler’s 70-plus minutes “Symphony No. 5.” An emotional roller coaster, it seemed as if it only lasted 15 minutes as well. Franz Welser-Most, in what turned out to be his last appearance this season (he was ill so Jayce Ogren took over the next two concerts) conducted the first three movements with passion, moving from an agitated opening funeral march to folk melodies and on to the work’s gorgeous cello and brass passages. The pensive Adagietto, heard often in films when someone dies in slow-mo, showed off the harp and the rondo-finale made the most of the (now) happy brass spiked by joyous notes from the clarinet. Whether such “program” music really tells a story or not (musicologists like to debate this), it was easy to let the imagination wander and create scenes. What can be taken away after such a fine night of music? Mahler still rules and Polish-Jewish author Bruno Schulz (murdered by a Nazi in 1942) wrote stories to be sought out.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Laura Kennelly lkennellyATgmail.com
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