Ms. Huang played Mozart last year when she won the competition, this time, she tackled the showier Saint-Saens' Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor. All the technique she displayed last summer was on display again in this larger work, only more so. The opening cadenza promised a bold interpretation which the combined forces delivered throughout. At times the orchestra exhibited more volume than was absolutely necessary, and just before the ending, they were slightly apart from each other, but it was impressive, nonetheless. Daniel Lano distinguished himself as principal clarinet with a gorgeous solo in the first movement. The winds and strings were lush and vibrant throughout. The middle movement scherzando was especially light and delicate, offsetting the thunderous octaves before and after.
Opening the musical portion of the concert was Javelin by Michael Torke, commissioned by the 1996 Olympic Games Cultural Olympiad in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Atlanta Symphony. Written in a mixture of contemporary styles, it is festive and somewhat like a mini-concerto for orchestra.
English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams should be found on more orchestra programs; his music is lush and melodic, possibly even old-fashioned, but in the nicest way. It’s also very adept at creating visual images. His Symphony No. 2, A London Symphony is such a vivid portrait of the city, that, even without reading the program notes, you’ll know just what time of day it is, and where in the city you are. Principal violist Joanna Patterson was superb in her solos here and there. Other standouts were Courtney Miller, english horn; Michael Oswald, horn; Nicholas Gallas, clarinet, and Soo-Yun Kim, piccolo.
If I knew who owned the cell-phone that rang during the final hushed measures, I’d list that name as well—but on a scroll of infamy. Perhaps we need to figure out how to boo the phone owner while cheering the efforts of soloist, conductor and musicians, who worked so hard to provide an excellent evening’s worth of music, only to have it all ruined in the last minutes by some unthinking clod.
Before the concert began, CIM President David Cerone informed the full house that 93% of the necessary funds for the expansion of their building have now been raised. (An Open House is scheduled for May 12 to show off the progress.) The orchestra saluted trustee Richard Pogue with Happy Birthday. They repeated this performance before the second half of the concert, but this time for volunteer Helen Beer, who with her husband Gene, were exhibiting the quilt made by Mrs. Beer as a raffle prize. Not to be outdone, Mr. Beer produced his own prize—a hand-made wooden magazine rack. Unfortunately, winner was present. But then, the Beers were awarded a prize of their own—a certificate of appreciation and informed that seats in the new recital hall at CIM would be named for them. Neat.
CIM regularly presents concerts and recitals by both faculty and students, as well as guest artists. For tickets or other information about any of these presentations, visit the web-site: http://www.cim.edu or call (216)791-5000.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net (:divend:)