CONTENTSCONGRATULATIONS
TO . . ., 3 LIVE EVENTS Veddy British Music
(Kraft) <> Going Into 'Understated Drive' (Kroll), 6 DOTTED NOTES from … Kraft, Kroll, Greenfest, Hickey, BLC, 16 SPEAKING OUT! Thoughts on the Pulitzer Prize, 17 AN INTERVIEW WITH … David Holzman, 19 THE PRINTED WORD Berger's Reflections (Kraft), 20 THE SCOREBOARD Sperry's Encores (Drogin), 21 RECORDINGSMini but Not Mousy
(Cleary) <> Bell's Echoes of Bela (Cleary) <> Just a Few Will Do (Cleary),
22 RECENT RELEASES, 24 THE PUZZLE CORNER, 25 COMPOSER INDEX, 27 BULLETIN BOARD, 27
WEB SUPPLEMENTA John Adams biography and an interview LIVE EVENTS Boston
Modern Orchestra Project CD REVIEWS Angel
Shadows: Laurel Ann Maurer |
Review
of Concert
Boston Connection: Boston Modern Orchestra Project Saturday, January 18, 2003, 8:00 PM Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory, Boston, MA When the thermometer reads 15 degrees Fahrenheit and falling, it takes precious little coaxing to find a reason to head indoors. A concert is always a good option in such cases. But the latest Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP) presentation, given over to music by New England Conservatory faculty and students, would have been a great bet to attend even in weather that tempts one to remain al fresco. Trans (1996) shows Lee Hyla writing for large forces while foregoing his favorite players, percussionists and bass clarinetists. But Hyla conjures up his usual powerful manner of speech without them. This is a tight, intense, three-movement fantasy on a trio of contrasting ideas, one each of a gruffly angular gesture, warmly melodic figure, and clutch of chords. Regardless of the mood or material, the music always delineates a well contoured, memorable sense of line and idea. Also scored for chamber-sized orchestra, Michael Gandolfi's Points of Departure (1988) belongs to this composer's earlier dissonant Expressionist period. It demonstrates mastery of many writing approaches, ranging from fleecy elusiveness to athletic vigor to lovely warmth without sacrificing sonic consistency. Its scoring, while virtuosic, is never garish. And like the Hyla, it's motivically succinct and architecturally sound. Fantasies Concertante (2003) by Malcolm Peyton demands much larger forces than either of these two. Clangorous in sound while exhibiting tonal focus (enough so that triads and a quote from Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony can be accommodated), the piece is able to project a palpable playfulness while maintaining solid energy throughout. Its forms are convincing without being derivative. And its unfolding of material contains plenty of surprises while maintaining logical consistency. This year's BMOP student contest winners held their own capably in the face of such formidable competition. Abans (2002) by Montserrat Torres shows its young tonemeister exploring more consonant waters, owing much in sound to Stravinsky and Copland. Hints of Iberian sunniness, conveyed via use of indigenous percussion, jumpy rhythms, and piquant wind passages impart a unique flavor to the proceedings, though. There's also a delightful clarity of orchestration and a nicely expressed sense of melodic shape (primarily a Bolero upward wedge with many side alleyways explored). Violinist Rimma Yermosh, awarded first prize in the performer's side of the competition, gave a solid rendition of Alfred Schnittke's Sonata for Violin and Chamber Orchestra (1963-68). The work, while every bit as eccentric in progression and gesture as the rest of this composer's oeuvre, holds together surprisingly well, being ably structured and very consistent in its material. Yermosh, while not the possessor of a booming tone, always put forth a sturdy sound quality and exhibited the nimblest of digital and bow technique. Conductor Gil Rose drew out a series of top-shelf performances from his charges. This is uniformly challenging stuff to play, and the orchestra never faltered. It's a pleasure to hear playing that is so accurate and exciting. And thanks to BMOP for providing the most welcome of refuges from the deep freeze outside. --David Cleary |