Violinist Soars With Beethoven

16-Year-Old Caitlin Tully Opens Season with Awe-Inspiring Performance

by Diane Peterson 

The Press Democrat, October 11, 2004

SANTA ROSA---Violinist Caitlin Tully brought a surprisingly mature artistic sensibility and technique to the Burbank Center for the Arts on Saturday night to open the Santa Rosa Symphony's gala 77th season.

Joining the symphony under Music Director Jeffrey Kahane in his 10th and final season, the 16-year-old violinist ended the evening on a high note with an awe-inspiring performance of Beethoven's Violin Concerto.

The understated performance, balanced sensitively by Kahane and the orchestra, brought out the work's soaring, melodic lines while underscoring its emotional content. It garnered the red-headed soloist a long and enthusiastic standing ovation.

A mere wisp of a girl, Tully plays a Gagliano violin from Italy that looks almost like a viola next to her slight frame. But the sensitive instrument projected easily under even the slightest touch of her bow.

Like violinist Hilary Hahn, Tully already appears to possess all the technical prowess of a veteran artist ö spot-on intonation, solid bowing and a string tone that's achingly sweet.

But what's really impressive is the interpretive depth of her playing and the overarching shape of her phrasing. One got the impression that she understood every nuance of this intimate and lyrical work, which is both simple and profoundly difficult.

Will she become another Hilary Hahn? That's hard to say ö the confidence and eloquence of Hahn are almost impossible to equal ö but Tully certainly has a special gift that will take her far as an interpretive artist.

Playing in hushed tones that invited the ear to listen, Tully began the concerto's stately first movement in a phlegmatic fashion ö cool, smooth and unhurried. There were a few minor intonation glitches in the cadenza, but nothing serious.

The slow movement was particularly transcendent, with a spiritual purity and beauty of sound that lifted it out of the realm of the ordinary. And the spirited Rondo came off without a hitch, including the finger-crunching double-stops, which Tully tossed off with effortless aplomb.

Under Kahane's careful ears, the balance between soloist and orchestra was maintained nicely, even during the quieter moments. Although tempos hiccuped a few times, the accompaniment was shapely and sensitive.

The concert kicked off with two works based on Greek myths ö an exciting West Coast premiere of Robert Aldridge's "Leda and the Swan," and a handsome rendition of Ravel's Suite No. 2 from "Daphnis and Chloe."

Both works showcased the colors and timbres of the full orchestra, with rippling woodwinds and lyrical strings punctuated by dissonant brass and percolating percussion. And both works were well received, with partial standing ovations.

Aldridge, who spoke to the audience before and during the concert, wrote the highly textured tone poem in an almost cinematic style. The dramatic work ricochets between explosions of sound and total silence, with rhythms and colors reminiscent of Holst's "The Planets." Assistant Concertmaster Erin Benim, sitting in for Joe Edelberg, climbed into the stratosphere for an ethereal solo.

Conducted without a baton, the orchestra brought an authentic French ambiance to Ravel's ravishing Suite No. 2 from "Daphnis and Chloe," with a sumptuous string sound, seamless dovetailing of transitions and a stellar flute solo by Kathleen Lane Reynolds.

The Santa Rosa Symphony will repeat the Saturday program at 8 tonight at the Burbank Center, 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. 
Tickets: $26-$52.