Jonathan Sheffer and red {an orchestra} @ Tri-C Auditorium 4/ 20 The final program of their second season was a tribute to Steven Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein from their sort-of protégé, Sheffer, who devised a program of previously somewhat unknown music written in their younger years by these two musical giants. In addition to a great musical talent, Sheffer has an enormous sense of curiosity, which led him to investigate the early works of Sondheim. He was rewarded by the discovery of a work for two pianos, produced by the 20 year-old Sondheim as his thesis. Sheffer then orchestrated it and voilá! A Concertino in three movements for chamber orchestra. It has the 'sound' of later Sondheim, but it's not very singable. The musicians of Red had a great time with this perky, energetic music, especially Paul Cohen on saxophone and Mark George at the piano. Throughout the concert, the musicians of Red were, as usual, precise in articulation and intonation, and really lush sounding in the Tri-C Metro Auditorium.

The two Sondheim works were the filling in the sandwich, embraced on either side by the two Bernstein pieces. Franklin Cohen, who is in his day job, principal clarinet of The Cleveland Orchestra, was the remarkable soloist in both of them.

Sonata for Clarinet is an early work of Bernstein, originally written for a clarinetist friend with piano accompaniment. Fifty years later, it was fleshed out by Sid Ramin, Bernstein's own orchestrator, into what could perhaps be called a 'concertino' for chamber orchestra (strings, piano and marimba) with solo clarinet. It's a wonderful, bright piece, redolent of the time in which it was written, but giving us a glimpse of the jazzy music that was yet to come from the composer. It's a splendid mixture of classical and jazz—as if it couldn't quite decide what it really wanted to be.

Bernstein's splendid Prelude, Fugue and Riffs closed out the evening in the 1998 arrangement by Lukas Foss. Wow! is an understatement. The musicians of Red, conductor Jonathan Sheffer, and soloist Franklin Cohen, virtually raised the roof with this incredible piece of music.

The stage was lit on sides and back with red lights of varying intensity and patterns. The music begins with the familiar driving beat so prominent in West Side Story. Almost immediately, Mr. Sheffer began his Bernstein imitation dancing joyously around the podium, conducting only occasionally with broad, expansive gestures. But then, this is not music that allows one to just sit there, listening. It's difficult and complex for the musicians, and immensely pleasing to the listener.

In addition to the great jazz licks of the clarinet, rendered magnificently by Franklin Cohen, there were great piano riffs, as well, again masterfully performed by Mark George. In a neat tribute to the big bands of yesteryear, the trombones stood while playing their big solos in the Riffs portion, followed by the trumpets, and then the horns. By the end of the piece, all the musicians were standing, and when the music ended, they were all wearing broad grins. It was another special, totally red concert.

Red {an orchestra}under the guidance of Jonathan Sheffer believes in innovation in music. Subscriptions for next season are now available, call Red's office: 440-519-1733 or visit the web-site: http://www.redanorchestra.org. from Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz

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