Dutch virtuoso Simone Lamsma delivered a stellar performance of Barber’s Violin Concerto with the Oregon Symphony under Principal Guest Conductor Jun Märkl. It was the highlight the first half of the program (May 22), which also featured colorful works by Respighi, Tchaikovsky, and Gabriela Lena Frank at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
The concert represented Lamsma’s final appearance as a member of the orchestra’s Creative Alliance in which she spent the prior week giving master classes and working with school kids and youth orchestras. The Barber flowed from her Stradivarius with an evocative, polished, and inviting sound. In the first movement, Lamsma created wistful, lyrical melodies that put listeners in a spellbinding trance. In the second movement, she followed Martin Hébert’s exquisite oboe solo with intimate yet passionate passages that were akin to singing. In the third, she let loose with a continuously busy series of notes as if running pell-mell and executing little jumps along the way. She arrived at the finish line in thrilling fashion, which caused the audience to erupt with a standing ovation.
After returning to the stage several times, Lamsma gave an immaculate performance of Eugène Ysaÿe’s Sonata No.3 “Ballade.” Its fiery and intense ending brought down the house again with sustained cheering and applause.
The second half of the program was for the birds – in a good way – because it offered Respighi’s “Gli uccelli” (“The Birds”) and selections from Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake Suite.” Both pieces fit Märkl’s graceful conducting style perfectly.
Based on music from the Baroque era, Respighi’s tone poem received a wonderful and lively interpretation by the orchestra. The musicians really got to strut their stuff, eliciting doves, hens, nightingales, and cuckoos. Hébert’s oboe created a mellow dove. The free-range chickens clucked with delight. The nightingale sang lovely tunes with kudos to Jeff Garza’s horn. The cuckoo echoed lightly throughout the orchestra.
Shortly after the five selections from the “Swan Lake Suite” started, I noticed that Märkl was conducting from memory. He probably conducted the “The Birds” from memory as well. In any case, the Tchaikovsky was infused with terrific dynamics and a gorgeous sound. I loved the way that the Valse (Waltz) leaned back and forth deliciously. The Matthew Tutsky’s superb harp solo in the fourth movement really stole the scene. Concertmaster Sarah Kwak executed lovely melodies and the total effect of the piece was heartwarming. All that was missing were the dancers.
Gabriela Lena Frank’ Concertino Cusqcueño expressed her Peruvian roots with a lot unusual combinations like the piccolo, bass clarinet, timpani, and celesta at the beginning, an eerie but not unfriendly sound that suggested the Incas. The principal strings (Sarah Kwak, Chien Tan, Amanda Grimm, Nancy Ives) wove melodic lines that were assimilated by the orchestra before returning to the opening ensemble. According to Frank, the one-movement piece was influenced in part by Benjamin Britten, and it created an enchanting setting for the rest of the concert.
The concert was sponsored by The Naito Family in memory of Bill and Micki Naito. I recall seeing Bill Naito at the Schnitz many times back in the day. He always seemed warm, very engaged with patrons, and not stand-offish in any way. I am not advocating for nostalgia, but it would be refreshing to see that connection to Portland’s power structure renewed in some way. Maybe there is a way to get that migratory path reinvigorated.
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