Wehaa:
User Box
Home Classical Music/Dance Moody Mist of Sound
Thursday, January 10,2008
Share
Moody Mist of Sound
Classical Review
I admit it is somewhat of a relief every year when the holiday season ends and
regular concert programming resumes. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
offered an interesting, well balanced concert last weekend: an
impressionist masterwork, a favorite 20th-century concerto, and a
seldom heard, big romantic symphony.
British guest conductor Edward Gardner, music director of English National Opera, took an athletic, technical approach to Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. I
was struck by the difference in his extroverted physical gestures and
the lovely subtleties coming from the orchestra. I think I understood
it.
Though Debussy’s music sounds like a moody mist of sound,
it requires exactness and sharp attention to detail. Gardner’s energy
worked well in leading Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, which
was premiered down the road in Chicago in 1921. To his great credit,
soloist Jeffrey Biegel approached this difficult piece with elegance
and grace, its enormous technical demands organically incorporated into
a satisfying musical statement. Biegel is an unassuming presence on
stage, an understated virtuoso who found every bit of lyricism possible
in what is usually considered a percussive piece. He was dazzling in a
brilliant encore, Rush Hour in Hong Kong by Abram Chasins.
Tchaikovsky’s
Symphony No. 1 is rarely programmed, and though it wanders around a
bit, it sounded fresh. Gardner’s operatic abilities and temperament
were obvious in this 45-minute, sprawling work. He dove into the
exaggerated melo- drama of some sections without irony or
self-consciousness. I would bet that Gardner is good at Verdi. He
showed an encouraging, free, rather flamboyant conducting personality
in this expansive music; the orchestra responded with expressive
playing. The shape and phrasing of the cello section melody in the
second movement was especially notable.
Anyone following the
local media already knows that the MSO has announced that noted
conductor Edo de Waart will become music director in September 2009.
This is surprising, happy news. I’ve written quite a lot about the
improvement of the orchestra during the tenure of Andreas Delfs. The
MSO is at level now where bad performances almost never occur. The
future seems bright.
Also in Classical Music/Dance:
Elections 2008
Obama seeks greater rein on financial institutions
(AP)
AP - President Barack Obama says he wants Congress to pass legislation giving the government greater regulatory authority over financial institutions like American International Group.
Sources: Pentagon to stop forced tour extension
(AP)
AP - The Army will substantially reduce use of the unpopular practice of holding troops beyond their enlistment dates and will pay $500 to those still forced to stay in the service, defense and congressional officials said Wednesday.
AIG head shares US anger of bonuses but backs them
(AP)
AP - The chief executive officer of failed insurance conglomerate AIG acknowledged Wednesday that the company's multimillion-dollar bonuses were "distasteful" to many and had provoked a firestorm of wrath. "I share that anger," Edward Liddy, chairman and CEO of the American International Group Inc., said in testimony prepared for Congress.
Analysis: White House, Dems backpedaling on AIG
(AP)
AP - For the first time since last fall's election, Democrats and the Obama administration are backpedaling furiously on an issue easily understood by financially strapped taxpayers: $165 million in bonuses paid out at bailed-out AIG.
Pence: Return AIG donations
(Politico)
Politico - House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence is urging politicians from both parties to strongly consider returning campaign contributions from AIG.
..Search Shepherd Express
Top Stories
AIG head shares US anger of bonuses but backs them
(AP)
AP - The chief executive officer of failed insurance conglomerate AIG acknowledged Wednesday that the company's multimillion-dollar bonuses were "distasteful" to many and had provoked a firestorm of wrath. "I share that anger," Edward Liddy, chairman and CEO of the American International Group Inc., said in testimony prepared for Congress.
Obama seeks greater rein on financial institutions
(AP)
AP - President Barack Obama says he wants Congress to pass legislation giving the government greater regulatory authority over financial institutions like American International Group.
Consumer prices rise by largest amount in 7 months
(AP)
AP - Consumer prices rose in February by the largest amount in seven months as gasoline prices surged again and clothing costs jumped the most in nearly two decades.
Crude
