Berkeley Symphony Orchestra
2014-02-06
Zellerbach Hall Auditorium
U.C. Berkeley, Bancroft Way at Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA
8:00 PM, Thursday, February 6, 2014
[7:00 PM lights down, announcements] Paul Dresher, Samuel Carl Adams, AM, JC
[missed the first few minutes due to a maddening parking scene]
Is it an anti concerto?
thirds and sixths
Relation to Pulcinella
Relation to Mendelssohn
[7:30 PM break for the show]
[7:58 PM tuning; 8:06 PM lights down, announcements by Rene Mandel, tuning, commments from JC]
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): Pulcinella Suite (1922, revised 1949)
Samuel Carl Adams (b. 1985): Violin Concerto (World Premiere Commission), featuring Anthony Marwood
[9:34 PM ready to go; 9:35 PM lights down, tuning, announcements (or none?)]
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, “Scottish” (1842)
I enjoyed hearing Pulcinella again, and the BSO did a fine job presenting it to us. Carl Adams new work was also interesting, though not nearly as aurally related to the opening Stravinsky as the pre-show talk had led me to expect. Like many of the premieres offered by BSO, I'd like to hear Adams' piece again, but except for the KALW rebroadcast, I'd guess the chances of that are slim to none; and much closer to none if the SFS doesn't program the work. Anthony Marwood deserves accolades for his part as soloist; my guess is that I'll be seeing him relatively soon!
Whoa! This section is incomplete for now, sorry!
Mystery non-performers present during the SCA work – sitting behind the violins, in front of the harp – a donor perk of some sort!
This show will be broadcast on KALW 91.7 FM on May 19, 2014
Several reviews have been posted elsewhere: Joshua Kosman for the SF Chronicle; Allan Ulrich for the Financial Times, and Richard Schenin for the San Jose Mercury News, to name a few.