Music must be seen to be heard
This is to take nothing away from the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra but when you bring in a globe-trotting virtuoso I think it’s fair to say all eyes will be on them. That was certainly the case Saturday night in the Winspear Centre.
The ESO got to take the spotlight for two pieces; Haydn‘s Symphony No. 88 in G Major and Stravinsky‘s Symphony of Wind Instruments (1947), the latter of which, of course, featured only the woodwinds and brass.
I will admit to raiding iTunes for versions of everything to be played Saturday. This gave me a sense of what I was to hear.
Seeing the ESO play, however, gave me what the music was really about.
I especially felt this in the opening symphony from Haydn. There was more energy in the piece than my iPod had shown. I think some of this was thanks to conductor William Eddins bouncing and happily moving at the most exciting parts.
But the symphony really pushed this music out to the corners of the Winspear. The 3rd movement’s swells, and calls and answers, brought out this energy and I could feel it in my chest. Even one of the trumpet players, when not engaged in the music, was quietly swaying and bopping his head.
Eddins is nothing if not able to work a crowd. He was sure to include some timely Olympic jokes and references in his conversation with the audience. He got a round of applause when telling the story of Slovenian skier who broke four ribs and collapsed a lung but still won a bronze medal. He got laughs when trying to update us on the games, finding only a never-ending curling match on TV.
He got more, polite, laughs when he had to leave the stage before Stravinski’s Wind Instruments because he had forgotten his music. It worked out, putting a smile on people’s faces before a grimmer piece of music. As the ESO describes it: “The work’s unusual scoring lends the work certain steely edge – as does the use of the many silences throughout its brief duration.”
Indeed, this was not music for everyone’s ears or tastes. The brass and woodwind players seemed pleased to have performed it for us and took their final bow of the night with smiles of their own.
They left the stage, and the strings returned for the final piece of the night, Piazzolla‘s Four Seasons of Buenos Aries.
Karen Gomyo (Photo: ESO)
But, I’ve gotten just a bit ahead of myself. Before the intermission there was also a Bartok piece called Rhapsody No. 1 for Violin and Orchestra. This was where the ESO audience got their first listen of the evening of the guest violinist, Karen Gomyo. (more…)
Success under the Sky
You won me over, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
I’m not against classical music (Dvorak’s “From the New World” is a favourite, since high school), I’ve just never been one to head out to an evening at the Symphony. Which makes me probably the exact kind of person being targeted by the ESO’s annual Labour Day venture into Hawrelak Park.
Well played, orchestra.
Symphony Under the Sky was a lot of fun. I had the pleasure of checking it out Friday night, Day One.
Earlier storms couldn't keep people from the music.
The park amphitheater is a great setting. Everyone (except me) remembered to bring a chair or blanket if they didn’t have reserved seating. The ESO was selling blankets and seats for people just like me. Some of the proceeds of those items fund the ESO.
One of the things I do find neat about classical music is how often a piece will be introduced and I’ll have no idea what the person is talking about. Once the music starts, however, I’ll say “Oh, THAT song.”
Such was the case Friday evening when conductor Robert Bernhardt (a visitor to our city who keeps coming back for this big event) talked about playing Modest Mussorgsky‘s “A Night on Bare Mountain.” Instantly recognizable (probably a lot of that due to Fantasia).
There were also parts of the night’s closing Concerto in F (by George Gershwin) that I recognized. ESO Music Director William Eddins hit the piano for this finale.
I hope others who took in the event for the first time found it worthwhile. I know I’ll be checking into what’s on tap for the rest of the symphony’s season.
Please note that staff of the mini donut tent are wearing TUXEDOS.
