www.springfieldsymphony.org
February 22, 2014
by Eric Sutter
As a folk and pop/rock music reviewer,
I was given the task as fill-in reviewer for Springfield Symphony
Orchestra's classical concert this week. Thankfully, my 7th grade
music teacher stressed the importance of the three B's of classical
music. It was fortunate for me that two B's were represented on the
evening's program, along with a piece by Arnold Shoenberg. Classical
music is beautiful with a high degree of creative structural
complexity. Pop music is simple and accessible. To me, the two forms
are musically night and day. They have different instrumentation, yet
both aim to touch the core of the heart. Both are valid. I think of
the English rock group "The Moody Blues" who tried to create a fusion
of the two styles for symphonic rock.
The SSO presented Beethoven's "Leonore
Overture No. 1, Op. 138" as a passionate lively piece which
built dynamic musical tension with the string section. A dramatic
change in sound occurred as the woodwinds took to sonic heaven along
with a full throttle ending by the Symphony's wonderful brass
section. Roll Over Beethoven...
In comes Schoenberg, who I confess that
I never heard of. Obviously, others knew his work very well, and the
audience loved him. His "Chamber Symphony No. 2 Op. 38"
offered two very distinct components. "Adagio" was filled
with sad expression of a slow dramatic descent. After the music had
climaxed, the decline in harmony was evident with expressive deep
emotion. "Con Fuoco, lento" was an equally moody piece
where cellos, woodwinds and strings dominated in a harmonic
convergence. The crescendo was an elation of string sound with gusto.
Ah ha, Brahms! His piano concerto "No.
1 in D minor, Op 15" was handled genteely by Jon Nakamatsu. The
young musician's piano style was light and elegant for the most part
with a flawless execution in the dynamic performance. He built the
three part piece with gradual intensity that was well thought out.
The different moods and tones formed were a gentle piano prelude to a
dramatic woodwind climb which exhilarated in the second section of
the piece. A slight peaceful mood of light piano and strings
introduced the finale followed by the coupling of strings and
woodwinds, capped with bold brass propulsion to a tremendous climax.
Concerts like these make this
folk/country/blues/rock guy want to return to SSO. There isn't one
music genre or style for one kind of person. Stretching one's comfort
zone usually a pleasant experience.
