By Benedicte Dansie
Set in the stunning St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Park City, the Deer Valley Music Festival with the Utah Symphony presented the absolutely delightful Schumann Cello Concerto. The concert was the perfect mix of pieces, marking itself as the ideal classical symphony for this summer. St. Mary’s warm golden lights,, flickering candles, and pale wood walls is a beautiful setting that seems to glow as the sun sets and creates a golden haze that highlights the cool colors of the many intricate stained glass windows. The concert, played beneath the outstretched arms of the elevated crucifix, truly transported the audience into one the old European cathedrals in an era when what is considered classic music was new to listeners.
Guest Conductor Christian Reif, who is currently the Resident Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony, is dazzling to watch. He moves unlike many other conductors, rolling and articulating as the music’s flow dictates. He lets the music move through him, swaying him from moments of sweeping passion to the most delicate flourishes. He was extremely graceful and moves as though he were part of a dance. pushing and pulling the musicians through the pieces with him. Wednesday night’s audience was caught up just watching the interaction between Reif and the orchestra.
The Symphony opened its concert with Ludwig van Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, Op. 62, a strong and dramatic opening like a summer storm that blasts through this tiny mountainside church and engulfs surrounding pastures. The piece features mesmerizing juxtapositions of light melodic strings played at the softest pianissimo with huge crashing crescendos. From start to finish, it is a quick, breath-taking piece that finishes with a near-silent plucking of the final chords, leaving the venue echoing with those final strains.
The following piece, Arthur Honegger’s Pastorale d’Ete, is perfectly placed in this charming pastoral setting in which the lowing of cattle and call of crickets can be heard in the background. The piece is very pretty and playful; it sounds like the green of springtime blossoming into the golden light of summer.
When Rainer Eudeikis, the Utah Symphony’s principal cellist, walked down the aisle and stepped up onto the stage, a hush descended upon the audience. He took a breath and launched into Robert Schumann’s intricate Concerto in a minor for Cello, Op. 129, racing through its three swift movements with gusto. He calls forth a bewitching voice from his instrument, making it sing tones resembling everything from a high, lilting soprano to the low, sweet tones the cello is known for. While balancing the difficulty of the piece and the artistry of his playing, Eudeikis moves effortlessly, emoting the beauty and breadth of the concerto. Featuring drastic shifts and drops that required meticulous fingering and a skilled precision from all involved, it was spectacular to watch. The overall tone of the piece is hopeful and the inherent emotion of the sound showcases the idea that there can be hope and beauty found even in the most challenging moments.
The Symphony finished with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36,which is a very bright and lively piece filled with many little trills and scales that suddenly burst into a richer, fuller sound. The movements slowly builds up into vivid and lush playing before dropping down into a new, light, and airy section. It is a lovely piece, finishing off with the sweeping fourth movement, which is a culmination of all that comes before. It works to interweave the sweet silver lining of the second movement with the bold strength and assuredness of the other Allegro sections.
The sheer joy nd lightness of the whole night made this concert one of the Symphony’s finest. Tucked away in the church beside the rolling green fields, the music just expounded upon the natural beauty of the night. The Saint Mary’s Chamber Concerts continue through August and it is recommended that music lovers attend one or more of them because they are truly a stunning way to spend a summer night.
Deer Valley Music Festival and the Utah Symphony Presented Schumann’s Cello Concerto
St. Mary of the Assumption, 1505 White Pine Canyon Rd, Park City, UT 84060, USA
Tickets: $15-50
July 17, 2019 8:00 PM.
Deer Valley Music Festival Page https://deervalleymusicfestival.org
Shumann’s Cello Concerto Info Page https://deervalleymusicfestival.org/event/id/22885/
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