Ups And Downs

by Jeff Dunn 

San Francisco Classical Voice, January 22, 2005 

The Santa Rosa Symphony and Music Director Jeffrey Kahane presented a substantial program Saturday, from the opening Mozart Piano Concerto No. 15, through Sibeliusâ Second Symphony, to the brilliant solo turn of visiting virtuoso Yumi Hwang-Williams in Christopher Rouseâs Violin Concerto. 

The Mozart was exhibited flawlessly. As both soloist and conductor, Kahane joyfully rippled up and down the keyboard of a topless grand while seamlessly segueing into turning the pages of the score or standing up to conduct the tuttis in the orchestra. The concluding Allegro in jaunting 6/8, with sprightly commentary from the winds, was the highlight of the concert in terms of execution. 

The Rouse work is a strong candidate to join the Barber as a most audience-pleasing American violin concerto, despite Daughertyâs and Adamsâ significant entries in the category. It is notable for its structural unity, its virtuosity, its power and its haunting opening barcarolle theme. The structure is made abundantly clear to the listener with two movements, Barcarola and Toccata, interleaved with three sets of three iterations of a four-note, doom-laden declaration, the last note of each punctuated by a frightening blow to a large gong. The violin part is especially challenging, with more double stops than a Paganini variation. Hwang-Williamsâ formidable technique made them fleet and sweet, bringing forth a frenzy of appreciation at the conclusion. The innate drama of the concerto, aptly conveyed by Kahane, more than made up for a few lapses of ensemble timing ÷ understandable, considering the workâs difficulty. 

The same cannot be said for the performance of the Sibelius symphony. Efforts by Kahane to inject energy into the warhorse by periodically increasing tempos beyond standard seemingly did little to light a fire under the performers, except for Laura Reynoldsâ oboe solos. Thanks to Kahaneâs effusive podium style and the familiarity of the glorious tunes, the work still came off. Perhaps more rehearsal would have helped, but it would have taken time away from the preparation needed for the Rouse. Kahane deserves credit for championing this contemporary composer and bringing his music to where it belongs, the ears and hearts of the audience. 

(Jeff Dunn is a freelance critic with a B.A. in music and a Ph.D. in Geologic Education. A composer of piano and vocal music, he is a member of NACUSA, a Bay Area correspondent for the journal 21st-Century Music, and President of Composers, Inc.) 

©2005 Jeff Dunn, all rights reserved