The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra resides within a very sacred part of my musical heart, mind and spirit. Last night was no exception! A new conductor! I was looking forward to the conductor from last year however, this young man is from Finland, and more than proved his worth as a conductor. Name, Pietari Inkinen. His hair is beautiful and his body and face are very easy on the eyes!
The symphony made use of every acoustical niche and cranny within the walls of the great Town Hall in the city of Dunedin.
Starting with Douglas Liburn's Aotearoa Overture. Simply used every instrument within the world of symphony! Gorgeous. This piece was composed in 1940 while Liburn was a student in London. It's first performance was in 1940. The NZSO's file records that Aotearoa was first performed by the NZSO under G. Warrack in 1953.
The guest artist for last night's concert was a Cellist, Natalie Clein. One of Britain's leading cellists. This young woman took the Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor Op. 85 to an entire different level. I have heard Julian Lloyd webber perform this piece with such elegance and heart wrenching agony, however, Natalie approached the piece with a delicate and very feminine energy. I cried!
Intermission was a much needed break.
The Crowning Jewel of the evening was the Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E minor Op. 64. ONE OF MY FAVORITE SYMPHONIES. At intermission everyone was handed a roll of confetti and ribbons to toss from the balcony seats into the orchestra and on the patrons below. The passion and fervour and orchestral colours of this symphony were beyond brilliant. The opening clarinet theme is a haunting memory. I learned the melody to the second movement when I was about 8 years old which was arranged for a very simple piano piece, from that time forth I have always loved it.
In notes found shortly after Tchaikovsky's death, he referred to the brief programme he had roughed out for the 5Th Symphony: "Introduction. Complete resignation before FATE, or, which is SAME, before the INSCRUTABLE predestination of PROVIDENCE. Allegro, Murmurs, doubts, plaints, reproaches against xxx Shall I throw myself in the embraces of faith???"
The entire hall was on it's feet and pounding the floor boards at the conclusion of this magnificent piece of art. (FULL HOUSE BTW!)
The NZSO was founded the year of my birth, 1946. On August 21, 1946 with Andersen Tyrer conducting they performed this very symphony! I have copies of very old photographs that were taken in the early 50's of Percy Grainger with the NZSO!
To say the least it was a night of magical vibrations and deep emotions. I am a blessed man beyond my wildest dreams! Music has no time frames. It is the past, present and future and most of all it is what we are. It is the universe. The invisible made visible and felt in every atom of the emotional fabric.
Keep the good vibes flowing.
No comments:
Post a Comment