On Saturday night, March 19th, the night of the Great Moon, the halls of Veterans Memorial Auditorium
were blessed with a spectacular production of Shostakovich's Symphony No 11 in G minor, Opus 103 by the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra.. Conductor Larry Rachleff and the entire orchestra put the near capacity audience into a trance taking us on a journey back to the turmoil bumbling up in Russia in that year of 1905. As Rachleff pointed out in his introduction to the piece, there is some prescience, a sort of deja vu, that we are now watching events take place in our time that have happened before. Hopeful dreams of freedom run up against the violent reaction of the status quo.
For almost an hour, Rachleff and the orchestra lead us through Shostakovich's sound portrait of the moods and emotions of the time. Ranging from the sublime to the chaotic, the seductive to the triumphant, the musician were tested and proved worthy of this long and complex piece. Movement to movement without a pause, the audience sat spell bound lulled by the soft tapping of the drum rolls of a procession then were knocked out of their seats by the crashing percussion of the blasts of cannons played by bass and kettle drums.
The brass and woodwinds combined to create a "visual" picture of the moment giving the performance a cinematographic feel. The brass moved from the loud blare of a triumphal entry to a sad lament. The woodwinds added their mellow colors to the phonic palette.
Most of all, the strings demonstrated the pure physicality of Schostakovich's work. The musicians were put to the test as they moved from the slow passages so typical of Russian folk music to a frenetically loud, at times almost discordant, series of passages. The audience could almost see their sweat, and certainly felt, the physical challenge each artist faced.
Afterward, the audience exploded with an enthusiastic standing ovation. But more than that, the conversation in the lobby and on the street the next day was one of exhilaration and marvel. The Projo headline on Sunday read, Conductor Rachleff shines in Shostakovich. There was an air among those leaving the auditorium that they had witnessed something very special. Rhode Islanders should be proud to have such a fine professional civic orchestra. It is a true symbol of what Rhode Island can be when people marching to a different tune can suddenly and so brilliantly get it together.
The concert began with the overture from Mozart's Cosi fan tutti, a pleasant way to warm the audience up on a cold night. This was followed by an other Mozart piece, Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major. Featured was Karen Gomyo, violinist who performed brilliantly on the solo parts. Ms. Gomyo displayed a poise and mastery of her instrument and the music that captured the audience. Her performance was strengthen by her complete physical involvement in her performance.
As if the program itself was not enough, this was the evening of the Great Moon. Walking to the Veterans Memorial Auditorium from the parking lot behind the Department of Administration Building, we watched as the Great Moon rose above the ridge that marks the East Side. A crowd with their cameras were gathered by the RI Credit Union lot taking pictures of this once in 18 year event.
Later we saw the moon hanging over the Independent Man on top of the State House.
Before the concert began, Marie Langlois from the Philharmonic Board welcomed the audience and made an appeal for support. The current economic conditions, the cut back in federal and local government funds, and the decline in the stock market have drastically impacted the Orchestra and its Music School. Currently they are expected to close out their fiscal year in the end of May with a $220,000 deficit. We were asked to help by contributing to cover this deficit. "If each person here tonight could just contribute an additional $100.00 to the Philharmonic ..." then the deficit could be covered. Certainly the performance last Saturday night was worth a $100.00.
Compare what you will get for that $100 and what it will do for the community. Compare that to what a $500.00 ticket to see Charlie Sheen's "Violent Torpedo of Truth," will do for Charlie Sheen.
were blessed with a spectacular production of Shostakovich's Symphony No 11 in G minor, Opus 103 by the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra.. Conductor Larry Rachleff and the entire orchestra put the near capacity audience into a trance taking us on a journey back to the turmoil bumbling up in Russia in that year of 1905. As Rachleff pointed out in his introduction to the piece, there is some prescience, a sort of deja vu, that we are now watching events take place in our time that have happened before. Hopeful dreams of freedom run up against the violent reaction of the status quo.For almost an hour, Rachleff and the orchestra lead us through Shostakovich's sound portrait of the moods and emotions of the time. Ranging from the sublime to the chaotic, the seductive to the triumphant, the musician were tested and proved worthy of this long and complex piece. Movement to movement without a pause, the audience sat spell bound lulled by the soft tapping of the drum rolls of a procession then were knocked out of their seats by the crashing percussion of the blasts of cannons played by bass and kettle drums.
The brass and woodwinds combined to create a "visual" picture of the moment giving the performance a cinematographic feel. The brass moved from the loud blare of a triumphal entry to a sad lament. The woodwinds added their mellow colors to the phonic palette.
Most of all, the strings demonstrated the pure physicality of Schostakovich's work. The musicians were put to the test as they moved from the slow passages so typical of Russian folk music to a frenetically loud, at times almost discordant, series of passages. The audience could almost see their sweat, and certainly felt, the physical challenge each artist faced.
Afterward, the audience exploded with an enthusiastic standing ovation. But more than that, the conversation in the lobby and on the street the next day was one of exhilaration and marvel. The Projo headline on Sunday read, Conductor Rachleff shines in Shostakovich. There was an air among those leaving the auditorium that they had witnessed something very special. Rhode Islanders should be proud to have such a fine professional civic orchestra. It is a true symbol of what Rhode Island can be when people marching to a different tune can suddenly and so brilliantly get it together.
The concert began with the overture from Mozart's Cosi fan tutti, a pleasant way to warm the audience up on a cold night. This was followed by an other Mozart piece, Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major. Featured was Karen Gomyo, violinist who performed brilliantly on the solo parts. Ms. Gomyo displayed a poise and mastery of her instrument and the music that captured the audience. Her performance was strengthen by her complete physical involvement in her performance.
As if the program itself was not enough, this was the evening of the Great Moon. Walking to the Veterans Memorial Auditorium from the parking lot behind the Department of Administration Building, we watched as the Great Moon rose above the ridge that marks the East Side. A crowd with their cameras were gathered by the RI Credit Union lot taking pictures of this once in 18 year event.
Later we saw the moon hanging over the Independent Man on top of the State House.
Support the Philharmonic and Music School
Before the concert began, Marie Langlois from the Philharmonic Board welcomed the audience and made an appeal for support. The current economic conditions, the cut back in federal and local government funds, and the decline in the stock market have drastically impacted the Orchestra and its Music School. Currently they are expected to close out their fiscal year in the end of May with a $220,000 deficit. We were asked to help by contributing to cover this deficit. "If each person here tonight could just contribute an additional $100.00 to the Philharmonic ..." then the deficit could be covered. Certainly the performance last Saturday night was worth a $100.00.
Compare what you will get for that $100 and what it will do for the community. Compare that to what a $500.00 ticket to see Charlie Sheen's "Violent Torpedo of Truth," will do for Charlie Sheen.
Supporting the RI Philharmonic Orchestra and The Music School is an investment in Rhode Island. Definitely deserving of public support.
