The Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra stopped by the Soka Performing Arts Center in Aliso Viejo on Wednesday night to open up the venue's Symphony Series for the season. Antoni Wit, the ensemble's longtime artistic director and a stalwart in Polish musical life, was on the podium. The latest winner of Warsaw's famed Chopin Piano Competition came along as soloist. And though the program was on the routine side, it was played with such winning style it was hard to object to it.
The exception to the routine agenda was the opening work, the "Little Suite" by Witold Lutoslawski, from 1951. I cannot remember ever hearing a professional ensemble play anything by this great composer in Orange County (he's been well-represented in L.A.). Chalk it up to conservative musical tastes ? for Lutoslawski did become a member of the daring avant-garde ? but the "Little Suite" wouldn't hurt a fly.
Pianist Yulianna Avdeeva performs with the Warsaw Philharmonic at the Soka Performing Arts Center.
DREW A. KELLEY, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
ADVERTISEMENT
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
With: Antoni Wit, conductor; Yulianna Avdeeva, piano
Where: Soka Performing Arts Center, Aliso Viejo
When: Nov. 7
Next: Soka Performing Arts Center presents Carl St.Clair and the Pacific Symphony at 3 p.m. on Nov. 18
How much: $48-$58
Call: 949-480-4278
Online: www.performingarts.soka.edu
It belongs to a period in the Polish composer's life when he was staying out of trouble behind the Iron Curtain. Authorities had denounced his First Symphony as "formalist" and the composer, for a time, took a safer route.
The "Little Suite" is an orchestral treatment of four Polish folk melodies, done with considerable imagination and humor. There is some metrical gaming, some harmonic spice and a fresh, piquant orchestration, but the melodies are always cared for. You hear a composer getting away with what he can, but also respecting the populist/socialist dictums of his overlords. It's a neat trick. Wit and the orchestra (champions of the composer's music) played it with elegant ease, tossing it off lightly, neatly, vigorously.
Founded in 1901, the Warsaw Philharmonic is considered one of Poland's best. Wednesday it sounded well drilled and brilliant in tone. The orchestra doesn't go in for the behemoth German blend, but instead displays a certain rusticity and vibrancy, each instrument heard separately and brightly. The strings are a cogent unit; the woodwinds pungent but airy. The brasses have a nice zesty zing; the French horns, especially, don't fool around.
Wit showed himself to be a diligent and intelligent musician. His stick technique is basically spare and clear; he needs a reason to get riled up. But he seems to know every corner of the music at hand, and can control its movement, expression and coloring at all times. He is a delight to watch and listen to.
Yulianna Avdeeva, the latest winner of the Chopin Competition (in 2010), performed Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor. Wow, she seems to have it all. This was a commanding reading, gloriously rich in tone, voluptuous of phrase, and argued seamlessly. There was plenty of fantasy in it, but it was never self-indulgent. Instead, every element, every half-tint, every ornament and grand oration fit into a well-integrated mosaic. Wit and the ensemble followed her flights closely and gave lightness and point to the composer's sometimes leaden orchestration.
Dvor?k's Symphony No. 8 closed the program. Wit and the orchestra's performance was well lived in, unforced and never dawdling, making its points naturally and eloquently. Wit enforced propulsive accents and forward-leaning lyricism. His rhythmic sense gave everything strong momentum and reason. The sunny and sizzling textures were always entertaining.
In the new hall opened just last year, Soka University is ramping up its symphony series and its classical music offerings in general. Word may not be out yet. Or maybe there's not enough of an audience for this type of thing in South County. At any rate, Wednesday's concert was half empty.
The encores were a stylish and potent Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 5 and "something special" (Wit's words) in honor of our Election Day and new president: "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Nice touch.
Contact the writer: 714-796-6811 or tmangan@ocregister.com
Source: http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/wit-377175-composer-well.html
jacksonville jaguars benjarvus green ellis shaka smart hungergames bagpipes aspirin aspirin
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.