By Alisha Hagey
Grieg’s Piano Concerto With Alexandra Dariescu with the Utah Symphony at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City is an all-Scandinavian program. Traveling from beginnings in Denmark, through Norway, and finally in Finland, the evening gives majestic notes and hints of the romantic past. The Utah Symphony rises to the occasion of some truly challenging music and meets the high expectations I was hoping for at this performance.
I was raised with the Romantics being played on LP from morning until night, intermixed with funny snatches of 60s rock. None of Grieg’s Piano Concerto was new to me. The performance made the music fresh by its brilliance, especially Dariescu’s magnificent and effusive expression. Every note is divine. The Symphony transcended the heights of Scandinavia’s mountain ranges into the Aurora Borealis. The movement of the heavenly lights flowed in the music and Nielsen, Grieg, and Sibelius sparkled in the constellations beyond.
was born in 1865 on the island of Funen, Denmark. Interestingly, this is also the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen as well. Nielsen later became what is considered the greatest composer to ever live in Denmark. Perhaps it is because his home town is nicknamed the ‘Garden of Denmark’ and such beauty created inspiration for future musical endeavors, but Nielsen was able to shine through his humble beginnings and create gloriously evocative music.
The Symphony begins with Nielsen’s Helios Overture, Op. 17. Helios starts with a controlled French horn calling out softly. The lone horn is then joined by others, and then a bassoon weaves in. The violins then enter, still and soft, but a bit bolder. An initial swell washes over the audience and a plaintive oboe enters the melody. The conductor, Kazuki Yamada truly played with the dynamics. He isn’t afraid of moments of legato. He took his time, as did all the instruments, as they began shaping the story.
In 1902, Nielsen’s wife was given permission to copy reliefs in Athens. Nielsen was to travel with her. There he was able to give in to his interest in archaeology and ancient architecture. His music turned to themes of sea and sky. The Helios Overture was created in celebration of the myth of Helios, the god who ferried the sun across the sky in a chariot. Nielsen wrote:
Silence and darkness,
The sun rises with a joyous song of praise,
It wanders its golden way
And sinks quietly into the sea.
With one of the most dramatic beginnings, the timpani breaks through the audience’s anticipation. The piano follows with the cadenza of Edvard Grieg’s Concerto in A minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 16. Edvard Grieg composed this iconic concerto during the summer of 1868 while on holiday in Denmark. This was Grieg’s only piano concerto. Given the amount of commitment to the form he dedicated his life to (Grieg wanted to be a career concert pianist), this is indeed unexpected. Even though the landscape of Denmark sparked this incredible work of music, it was his native home in Norway that colored the musical passages. You could hear Norway in the hints of native folk song that occasionally intermingled throughout.
Alexandra Dariescu approached the piece with a calm grace, although there was a moment where she had a brief respite that found her delicately dabbing at her forehead. At the close of this piece, 30 minutes of sheer perfection, the audience cheered her on to four ovations (all well-deserved). Dariescu plays the piano how all students dream and imagine we can – before touching the keys or blowing a tone out – seeing the genius that we hope will come rather than the reality of being victim to the metronome. As we plunk out our scales and arpeggios, we imagine our profundity. In truth, we are all grateful to create familiar tunes with enough time and practice. Dariescu, though, was that prodigy we all hoped to be. As we cannot all be so gifted, we can hear one and experience the beauty of such talent. Her playing was joy.
At the conclusion of the testing, Tamby posted the following results: * 91 percent showed improved libido * 73 percent enjoyed improved viagra best sexual function * 82 percent benefited from an improved psychological approach to sex When Kilham left for Malaysia, he sought the truth. Kamni capsules should be taken online sale viagra for 4 to 6 months for optimal results. Doctors often prescribe psychotherapy or oral medication, like antidepressant Zoloft, for example, to aid the patients in coping with our depressive mood swings. cheap generic levitra The effects of this sexual motivator remedy could get reverted if there are intakes of unsuitable pill that could decline the tolerance level of men’s health organ. tadalafil 25mg buy at drugstore
The evening concluded with a Finnish master, Jean Sibelius. Surprisingly enough, we don’t often hear the strains of Sibelius’s music, but that doesn’t diminish the skill and quality of his works. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 is perhaps the most well-known of his works. It is at times familiar and always surprising. Sibelius said, “My second symphony is a confession of the soul.” Perhaps it is this vulnerability that has given rise to questions about the piece and its meaning to the Finnish people. It was popularly referred to as the “Symphony of Independence.” Sibelius wrote during the transition of a Russian controlled Finland until after it had become a free and sovereign nation. Many used his music as a vanguard to spark national pride.
There is a three note and then four note motif that begins to shape through the Allegretto. We hear notes that harken back during the Andante, but giving rise to more brass. Then suddenly the strings come in, dividing us within its melody and countermelody. This all moves into the third movement, the scherzo, with its frantic pacing. But it isn’t until the fourth movement came in, the Allegro moderato, that the heart of the entire evening is laid bare for the audience. The music builds and builds, playing homage to the first movement but finding its own new form. The orchestra gives us a lightness, a feeling of hope, and a longing for home.
The Utah Symphony creates for us a glorious treat of sweeping landscapes and rich melodies. The Romantics are heard, yes, but also the beginnings of the modernist movement. The evening is transcendence and exultation. Yamada brings a new life to the orchestra. His prowess at conducting is abundantly clear. He is a conductor who uses every part of himself to pull out his hopes for the musicians. He communicates his vision far beyond the baton in his hand. I hope that we see more of him in the future in Salt Lake City. His command and control is so light and yet so gripping. Rarely do we witness a conductor with so much fluidity of motion. We are truly honored to have him share this evening with us. I hope everyone has the chance to experience music that is both performed by masters at their craft and conducted by another such talent.
Utah Symphony presents Grieg’s Piano Concerto With Alexandra Dariescu
Abravanel Hall, 123 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
April 20-21, 2018 7:30 PM
Tickets: $30+
This show is part of the Family Night series offering four tickets for $30 for parents and two children.
Please contact ArtTix at 801-355-2787 for details on Student/Under 30 tickets.
Utah Symphony on Facebook
Alexandra Dariescu explains Grieg’s Piano Concerto
0 Comments