News and reviews over the weekend in classical music | Arts in Focus

Yesterday, we announced a new collaboration with the World Piano Competition:

A former Procter & Gamble executive with a passion for the piano, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati have joined forces to enhance the World Piano Competition, with the intent of transforming it into a high-profile international summertime event. Click here for the story.

Here?s the CSO review. The brilliant violinist Leila Josefowicz was soloist in the Cincinnati Symphony premiere of Thomas Ad?s Violin Concerto, subtitled ?Concentric Paths.?

And here?s my take on yesterday?s Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra concert, featuring the world premiere of Frank Proto?s Saxophone Concerto No. 2 with Rick VanMatre:

The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra presented an afternoon of rarely heard music with Queen City ties on Sunday. The most fascinating piece among them turned out to be one that was brand new.

Music director Mischa Santora led the world premiere of Cincinnati composer Frank Proto?s Saxophone Concerto No. 2, with Rick VanMatre as soloist. It was a work that bridged the worlds of classical and jazz, and drew a large crowd from both worlds, too, to Corbett Theater at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Over-the-Rhine.

The concerto was the highlight in a program of rarities by Eugene Ysaye, Igor Stravinsky and Leopold Stokowski.

Proto is familiar to local music lovers for the three decades he spent playing double bass with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. But the Brooklyn-born musician is also a prolific and largely self-taught composer, who wrote more than 25 substantial works for the CSO, Cincinnati Pops and Young People?s Concerts. His commissions have included a Who?s Who in entertainment, from opera star Roberta Peters to trumpeter Doc Severinsen.

VanMatre, too, is a fixture on both classical and jazz stages. The professor emeritus and former director of Jazz Studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music has recorded with the Cincinnati Pops and appeared with the Pops, CSO and ensembles such as the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

Proto wrote his first Saxophone Concerto for baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan, which premiered with the CSO in 1973. Concerto No. 2 gives a nod to the jazz great with an echo of ?Bernie?s Tune,? one of Mulligan?s signature songs, in the last movement.

This was a work that was not rooted in either jazz or classical, but seemed comfortable crossing between them and back again. Aside from VanMatre?s truly impressive improvisations, part of the appeal was the element unpredictability.

It began with a slow, plaintive introduction for VanMatre?s tenor sax, set against ethereal strings. The first movement, an ?allegro,? evolved into a sophisticated mix between full-blown classical concerto and cool, syncopated jazz. VanMatre?s artistry was seamless, technically superb and musically inventive, as he traveled up and down his instrument and climaxed in a high trill.

VanMatre picked up a soprano sax for the slow movement, a somewhat moody journey that soon moved into a waltz. The upbeat finale echoed Bernstein?s ?West Side Story? at times; other times had a Latin beat.

During the journey, the composer scored solos for oboe (Christopher Philpotts) and violin (Amy Kiradjieff), who alternately dueled with the saxophonist.

VanMatre provided a showy cadenza of flourishes and arpeggios in the finale. His musicianship was so effortless, it was hard to know whether he was improvising or playing a riff written out by the composer. That was the idea, Proto said later.

?Some of the spots where you think it?s improvised, it isn?t, and vice-versa. That?s totally on purpose,? he said.

Santora opened the program with ?Exil? (Exile), a little-known, post-romantic gem by Ysaye (onetime music director of the CSO) for high strings. He closed with a ?Reverie for Strings? by another former CSO music director, Stokowsky.

Stravinsky?s neo-classical ?Danses Concertantes? was the program?s centerpiece. All of the notes were cleanly played, but more spontaneity and varied character would have enhanced this charming dance music.

The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra season continues on May 5 with the Vocal Arts Ensemble. Information: 513-723-1182, www.ccocincinnati.org.

Posted in: CCM, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops, CSO, Jazz, Local Music Groups, Opera, Updates

Tags: Cincinnati arts, Cincinnati entertainment, Music Hall, University of Cincinnati

Source: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/arts/2013/03/04/news-and-reviews-over-the-weekend-in-classical-music/

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