Orchestra balances contrary melodies
By JOHN FLEMING, Times Performing Arts Critic
Published November 12, 2007
ST. PETERSBURG - It was surprising how well Faure's velvety Requiem and Bartok's hard-edged Concerto for Orchestra worked together in concerts over the weekend by the Florida Orchestra, Stefan Sanderling conducting. The Requiem, with its angelic melodies, rises or falls on the performance of the sopranos, and the soprano section of the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, prepared by artistic director Richard Zielinski, has never sounded better than it did Saturday night at Mahaffey Theater. When the sopranos sang the Sanctus with heavenly sweetness, it became clear this was a special performance.
The soloists, however, were less ethereal. Soprano Kendra Colton had all the notes, but standards for the Pie Jesu are high, and her workmanlike reading lacked poetry. Baritone James Westman's diction was clear, but his sometimes guttural lower register left a stolid impression.
Coming after the Requiem, the slashing brilliance of Bartok's masterpiece was riveting, an orchestral journey through contrasting sections ranging from lush brass choir to snake-charmer oboe to piercing violins. When the elaborate edifice came crashing down in the finale, it took your breath away.
FLORIMEZZO: Double bass and clarinet were featured in the first half of Friday's Florimezzo concert at the Palladium Theater. Urged by artistic director Mark Sforzini to pay attention to tone colors, listeners were treated to Aaron White and Jim Petrecca in bass duets by David Anderson about animals, including Parade of the Politically Prudent Pigs, which sounded like an homage to Shostakovich, followed by works for clarinet. Sforzini's arrangement for clarinet choir of piano pieces by Stephen Heller, a 19th century Hungarian composer, created a beautifully delicate atmosphere.
The second half was taken up by the Beethoven Op. 103 Octet for four pairs of winds and the Octet for Winds and Percussion by Andre Dubas, chair of the music department at Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School. Beethoven is a tough act to follow, but Dubas' piece more than held its own, wearing its American influences well. Brass and marimba had the homespun harmonies of Copland. A bluesy bassoon solo could have been an aria from Porgy and Bess. The dramatic finale had the feel of a soundtrack for a Hollywood western.
CHOIR: The Richard Zielinski Singers, a 40-voice chorus conducted by the Master Chorale's artistic director, gives a concert next weekend to mark the release of its new CD, American Voices, Volume 2. Most of the music will be off the album, including pieces by Libby Larsen, Randall Thompson and Eric Whitacre. The concert is at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Palladium Theater. $10-$20.
John Fleming can be reached at 727 893-8716 or fleming@sptimes.com.