Faultless execution—musically—of a unique concept is the hallmark of Red {an orchestra}. You may not always agree with the concept—which doesn’t always work as well as the music—but the music is always performed precisely, with passion. That is exactly what emerged from Red’s season opener Saturday night at the Masonic Temple. Jonathan Sheffer, Artistic Director and Conductor titled this program Schubert: Unfinished / Refinished. Indeed, it featured music of Franz Schubert who died at the age of 31 in 1828. It also featured music of Luciano Berio, who died earlier this year. In his remarks before the concert, Mr. Sheffer identified Berio as a ‘great’ composer. He went on to opine that not everyone would agree with that statement. In this, I suspect he was right.
The Unfinished Symphony of Schubert (either his 7th or 8th) was given a lush, silky performance by a slightly augmented orchestra that was still of a chamber sizing. As always with this group, intonation and articulation are elements of beauty, to which the acoustics in the auditorium added drama and reverberation, making the sound bigger than it really was. At the conclusion, individual bows were first granted to principal winds before the entire orchestra was encouraged to stand for the loud applause.
In place before the music began were two platforms to the side of the podium, and somewhat closer to the audience. For Berio’s Sequenza XIV for Solo Cello, however, soloist Darrett Atkins sat in the glow of a spotlight, between them. This is not exactly a melodic work, although there were certainly moments of lovely long lines interspersed between the plucking of the strings with the left hand and thumping — in a percussive motif — against the body of the instrument with the other hand. Whatever one thought of it, though, it was a dazzling display of virtuosity, and the audience recognized this fact, with cheers and shouts of ‘Bravo!’ accompanying the brisk applause.
Schubert wrote over 600 songs in his short lifetime, many of which have since been orchestrated. Ständchen (Serenade) by Offenbach; Gretchen am Spinnrad (Gretchen and the Spinning Wheel) by Reger; Dopplegänger (The Double) and Wiegenlied (Lullaby) by Sheffer; Erlkönig (The Erl King) by Berlioz, and An die Musik (To Music) by Mr. Sheffer were the components of 'Songbook’.
It would have been lovely to have heard Ms. Zukerman in performance, singing the songs, as her voice and technique seem singularly suited for them. However, this particular semi-staged setting served more to distract the audience than to entertain it. There were creative effects with lighting (shadows and colors) and the staging by Peter Kazaras emphatically illustrated the unrequited love of the young woman for the young man who mostly ignored her presence.
Ms. Zukerman was obliged to sing from various positions: on her knees; lying flat on the floor; reclining on the chair or just standing. Mr. Atkins accompanied several of the songs, (along with the orchestra) and in Erlkönig with the cello on his lap like a guitar. At this point, Ms. Zukerman removed the record from the phonograph and smashed it on the floor.
Closing the longish program was Rendering by Berio, ‘based on Schubert’s sketches for a 10th Symphony’. While it was performed well, a listener might well wonder where was Schubert in all this? Perhaps 5% was Schubert, the remaining 95% was Berio. Several in the audience (while leaving the building) were heard to express a wish that the percentages had been reversed. Regardless, Jonathan Sheffer and Red deserve high praise for their musical innovation and creativity. One never knows quite what to expect from a Red concert. But, be assured, one always gets wonderful musicianship.
Next up for Red {an orchestra} is the Disappearing Pianos concert on January 30, '05. Although this program will again be at Masonic Auditorium, note that it will be at 3PM on Sunday afternoon. For tickets or other information, call (440) 519-1733 or visit http://www.redanorchestra.org. from Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriter@core.com (:divend:)