By Kathryn Olsen
It is fairly common to hear a concert that features a crowd-pleaser, but in Alpine, The Firebird Suiteby the Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra is performing a program of old favorites and thrilling contemporary works at Timberline Middle School‘s auditorium this weekend. Under the direction of John Pew and associate conductor Douglas Pew, the concert covers eras from 1775 to 1986 and is a delight from start to finish. I, myself, attended as a long-time lover of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart‘s violin concertos and a more casual fan of the Igor Stravinsky work that ended the night.
The first piece on the program is the frenetic and aptly-named Short Ride in a Fast Machine. This 1986 work by John Adams is a pulse-pounding exercise in energy for orchestra and audience alike. Between the almost percussive bowing of the strings, the syncopated contributions of the winds and brass, and the driving staccato of the percussion section, it feels as though the entire hall has been transformed into a vehicle that is on the verge of losing control. It is a feat of impressive interpretation that at no point does this sound disorganized or truly discordant and is riveting for its short duration.
From there, the program proceeds to one of Mozart’s most beloved solo works. Composed when the virtuoso was only nineteen years old, the Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Majoris full of that youthful energy as well as sublime moments of intimacy. John Pew introduced the piece by literally setting the stage for an orchestral experience largely unfamiliar to modern artists—the orchestra was reduced to one to four pairs of instrumentalists per section and both conductors stepped aside as it was customary for the soloist to conduct the smaller ensemble. Guest artist Alexander Woods, an associate professor at Brigham Young University, was therefore able to create a more personal relationship with the orchestra. His interpretation of the concerto shows a deep understanding of the work, as he often highlights a counterpoint between soloist and ensemble with body language and personal attention to certain orchestral parts. Attendees who might not be familiar with the piece will be able to use these cues to feel more connected to the music. More impressive even than his effortless trills and lightly-tripping arpeggios are the improvised solo passages in each of the three movements.
The second half of the program begins by adding the American Heritage School‘s Lyceum Concert Orchestra for two pieces. First is Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari‘s The Secret of Suzanna. It is a bridge between old and new, composed in 1909 as an opera that explores the ups and downs of marriage and this excerpt seems to recall a happy time. It is springing and lovely and the addition of the younger performers only enhances the jubilant feeling.
Georges Bizet‘s Carmen Suite No. I, on the other hand, is as varied in its tones as it is memorable. The 1875 opera from which it is derived is a romantic tragedy and this is soulfully expressed in the Prelude. Both the Aragonaise and the Seguedille movements are both Spanish dances, while the Intermezzo with intertwined themes is the only moment of peace in the suite in spite of the coming troubles for the lovers Carmen and Don Jose. A brief military march for Les Dragons d’Alcala precedes the thrilling Les Toreadors in which the famous homage to bullfighters is interjected between exciting processionals. It is all executed in a way that invites the audience to experience the emotions of the plot without attending the full opera.
The final work has a similar effect. Combining the Russian legends of The Firebird and Koschei the Immortal, this reduction of the 1919 ballet by Stravinsky highlights the fateful story of Prince Ivan and the titular character as well as the sinister machinations. The Infernal Dance of Koschei evokes terror, while the khorovod dance of thirteen princesses at the castle. The lullaby Berceuse movement contains foreshadowing of the story’s outcome in optimistic tones, but it is not until the magnificent finale that the theme that has been interspersed throughout the various movements becomes relentlessly and increasingly victorious. The orchestra is fully committed to exhibiting this triumph and responds beautifully to the conductor’s instructions at a moment’s notice.
This breathtaking program has just one more performance, so take a short ride in a fast machine to Timberline Middle School for a night that will compel audiences to feel deeply.
Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra Presents The Firebird Suite
Timberline Middle School, 500 W Canyon Crest Rd, Alpine, UT 84004
Mar 6-7, 2020, 7:30 PM
Tickets: $8-12
Contact: (801) 210-2466
www.thetso.org
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