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Woodlands Symphony Orchestra performs in new Woodlands United Methodist Church
By
DAVID DOW BENTLEY III
“The
People’s Critic”
(The Courier
11.19.00) Not
so long ago, on warm summer evenings in a poolside chaise at
Creekwood Park, I observed the ongoing construction of the
beautiful Woodlands United Methodist Church. Finally, at this
week's Woodlands Symphony Orchestra concert, "Hungarian
Maestros," I was able to see the soaring tabernacle from the
inside. |
If
the church itself was a heavenly concept, the music of this fine
orchestra certainly made it more so. A pre-concert "In the
Spotlight" discussion was hosted by symphony education
liaison, Lana Hazlett. With the animated charm and grace that has
made her a pre-symphony favorite, Mrs. Hazlett led a conversation
with the soloist for the evening, renowned violinist, Andor Toth.
Special attention was paid to the many local school children in
the audience who were guests through the generosity of the
Woodforest National Bank "Musical Chairs for Kids"
program. With the gentle manner of an old friend, the handsome,
silver-haired Toth shared with the children some tales of his
youth in a tough, Irish-Italian neighborhood of New York City
where ".you either became a priest or a convict!" He
reminisced further about his path to the Julliard School, as well
as his pride in both his son (a famed cellist), and his wife,
Louise, a noted singer. He has performed with both around the
world. Toth also spoke of Bela Bartok, composer of the concerto he
was about to perform. He described Bartok's use of Hungarian songs
and dances for inspiration, and also the complex polytonality
(music written in two keys) that made Toth, himself wonder if this
composition was the best choice for introducing young children to
the symphony.
The performance, conducted by WSO's Music Director, Dagang Chen,
began with Mr. Toth as soloist for Bartok's Violin Concerto No. 2.
A calm, serene, and focused atmosphere surrounded the famed
violinist throughout the performance. He gave an extraordinary
display of technical brilliance while being superbly complemented
by the orchestra under the gifted Chen's baton. The piece itself
is undoubtedly a feast of polytonal intricacies for musical
intellectuals. While beautifully performed here by both soloist
and orchestra, it offered some difficult listening for average
concertgoers accustomed to more clearly defined melodic lines and
musical direction. No one would be humming this tune on the way
home. Perhaps Toth's hesitation to offer it as a child's
introduction to symphonic music was well founded. Never the less,
the performance was warmly received during the enthusiastic
ovation that followed.
The evening concluded with a magnificent performance of the
Symphony No.3, in F major of Johannes Brahms. The First Movement
was immediately soaring with sweeping grandeur, and then varied
from lighthearted melodic richness to moments of great passion. On
a crisp autumn night in Texas, the Second Movement was performed
with such skill under Chen's direction, that it seemed to wrap the
audience in a cozy blanket. The Third Movement is one of the
best-loved movements in all of symphonic literature. In Chen's
skilled hands, this performance was almost hypnotic in the
tenderness of its melodic power. The concluding Fourth Movement
began with great majesty and quickly raced to heights of
orchestral power that had all symphonic elements in perfect high
gear. If Woodlands residents had forgotten they lived in a special
kind of paradise, Maestro Chen had given them a blissful reminder
that those present will long remember.
E-Mail
David Dow Bentley III
Bentley’s columns, featured in newspapers
from the East Coast to the Gulf Coast, may be viewed on the website at
www.ThePeoplesCritic.com
while E-mail may be addressed to
ThePeoplesCritic@earthlink.net
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