Albany Symphony Orchestra - May 17, 2008
When it takes almost five minutes for the 100 members of a choir to fill their spots on stage, when you know Beethoven’s delightful spiritual 9th is to be performed, and when you are in the endearingly warm Palace for the first time; you know the three hour journey from NJ is well worth it.
I was not left disappointed as the energetic David Alan Miller conducted the Albany Symphony with much joy. Miller obviously loves his job and that sense flows from movement to movement. There was also present an obvious affinity with the Symphony. I don’t easily recognize the technical problems with performance but when a conductor connects well with his orchestra, it provides for good entertainment. He also is not tied into traditional staging as demonstrated with the placing of the Cellos at Stage Right for Beethoven’s 9th and the Harp in front of the Kettle Drums for Chang’s premiere.
Having only recently become familiar with ASO, the one thing especially appealing is its purposeful embracing of the newer composers. Of the two pieces, I found Chang’s “Along the River of Stars” to be the more interesting. This is more of a meditative piece than Beethoven’s grandiose symphony of praise. To move from meditation to praise represents great programming but to rest in the music of Chang provided me with an understanding of the discipline of composing. Here a sound! There a sound! Each important in its own right! Chang probably understands me when I speak of listening to the grass grow. Not easy but with “Along the River of Stars” possible.
I was not left disappointed as the energetic David Alan Miller conducted the Albany Symphony with much joy. Miller obviously loves his job and that sense flows from movement to movement. There was also present an obvious affinity with the Symphony. I don’t easily recognize the technical problems with performance but when a conductor connects well with his orchestra, it provides for good entertainment. He also is not tied into traditional staging as demonstrated with the placing of the Cellos at Stage Right for Beethoven’s 9th and the Harp in front of the Kettle Drums for Chang’s premiere.
Having only recently become familiar with ASO, the one thing especially appealing is its purposeful embracing of the newer composers. Of the two pieces, I found Chang’s “Along the River of Stars” to be the more interesting. This is more of a meditative piece than Beethoven’s grandiose symphony of praise. To move from meditation to praise represents great programming but to rest in the music of Chang provided me with an understanding of the discipline of composing. Here a sound! There a sound! Each important in its own right! Chang probably understands me when I speak of listening to the grass grow. Not easy but with “Along the River of Stars” possible.
Labels: ASO Albany Symphony Orchestra Chang Along the Rivers of Stars
posted by SpiritJC | 4:57 PM
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