Fridays@7 Cleveland Orchestra 10/9/09

A few fortunate Friday evenings between now and the end of the 2009-10 season of the Cleveland Orchestra will undergo a name-change and major transformation. They will become Fridays@7, and be more popularly called ‘Fabulous!’ ‘Fantastic!’ and ‘just plain fun.’ At least they will if last Friday’s initial venture is any indication.

Everything was new except the music in the concert hall, but even that wasn’t exactly standard in nature, either. Certainly, Franz Welser-Möst was conducting, and popular soloist Mitsuko Uchida was featured in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4. The other work on the program was Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, but that performance was anything but traditional. Actually, it was hair-raising, but only in the very best way. It crackled with energy and tension, leading at least one member of the audience to comment ‘could they have played that (first movement) any faster?’ One wonders. But after this performance, I strongly believe these musicians can do anything!

Dressed in all-black (no tuxes or tails this time around) conductor and musicians accompanied Ms. Uchida through a delicate and shimmery rendering of the mostly tranquil Concerto No. 4. Yes, there are moments of majesty (such as the ending of the first movement which prompted shouted Bravos! and wild applause) to offset the lyrical and dreamy second movement. Throughout Ms. Uchida’s trills were vivid and exacting (maybe she could earn extra points for this feature alone, much as ice skaters do for spectacular spins?)

At the conclusion, pianist and conductor exchanged an affectionate hug, while the audience responded with vigorous enthusiasm.

Then, without intermission (only a pause to remove the piano from center stage) Mr. Welser-Möst launched his players into what must be the fastest (and most exciting) reading ever of the most famous symphony in the world – Beethoven’s Fifth. It was an astonishing performance. There is no other word for it, except maybe – the best I’ve ever heard. (I suspect many others in the audience would say the same.) The winds and the brass were crisp, the low strings were brisk and very articulate while providing depth to the whole entity. The upper strings were extremely nimble whether in pizzicato sections or bowed.

The final movement shone a light on yet another facet of this group: they can change from fast to slow or loud to unbelievably soft in a heartbeat! It was just truly all-around incredible.

But that was by no means the end of the evening! Actually, the beginning was not the usual, either. The doors opened at 5:30 pm, for those folks who came straight from work. There were nibbles and liquid refreshment available as attendees wandered around, meeting old friends or making new ones. The concert began at 7 pm, and ended about 8:20. As the audience reaction in the concert hall faded away, one began to hear the percussion wafting up from the main lobby.

At the eastern end of the Grand Foyer, the Brazilian group Beat The Donkey was set up and ready to go. It was loud, it was festive, it was colorful and highly infectious! More food and drink was available to those who stayed for a second performance by this world-famous ensemble. Sofas were arranged in conversational groupings around the box floor, although conversation was hard-to-come-by while Cyro Baptista’s group was performing. [Click on video window at left to view video]. No one seemed to mind, however, as they swayed or tapped feet or snapped fingers, becoming part of the stunning ambiance. Even Mr. Welser-Möst stayed around for the after-concert concert!

For more information about these concerts or any of the other events at Severance Hall, visit the website: http://www.clevelandorchestra.com or call the ticket office at 216.231.1111.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz, who writes: My most recently published book is Ardenwycke Unveiled (e-book and trade paper). Cerridwen has another contemporary romance from me, But Not For Love, currently available only as an e-book, but perhaps will be in print next year. I hope to soon get around to completing some of the 30+ incomplete books in my computer!

By the way, Cerridwen has also accepted two of my short stories in their Scintillating Samples (complimentary reads) area: Song of the Swan and Unexpected Comfort. I love photography as well, as you can see here. Occasionally I teach writing workshops and sometimes do editing or ghostwriting on a free-lance basis. But over and above everything else, there's always been the writing. I can't imagine my life without it.