San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall, May 1, 2014

SF Symphony presents Koopman’s Bach: The Bach Family featuring San Francisco Symphony
2014-05-01
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness, San Francisco, CA
2:00 PM, Thursday, May 1, 2014

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Whoa! This section is incomplete for now, sorry!

J.S. Bach: Orchestra Suite No. 4 ends 2:22

C.P.E. Bach: Cello Concerto No. 3 in A major, Wq 172 ends 2:46 setbreak

C.P.E. Bach: Symphony in G major, Wq 183, no. 4 ends 3:m

J.S. Bach: Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen (Rejoice in God in All Lands), BWV 51, featuring Mark Inouye and Carolyn Sampson ends 3:46

[2:00 PM lights down, announcements]

1. [2:00 PM] ?
2. [2:00 PM] ?
3. [2:00 PM] ?
4. [2:00 PM] ?
5. [2:00 PM] ? [set ends 5:00 PM]

[3:30 PM lights down, announcements]

1. [3:00 PM] ?
2. [3:00 PM] ?
3. [3:00 PM] ?
4. [4:00 PM] ?
5. [4:00 PM] ? [set ends 5:00 PM]
    
   Encore
6. [4:00 PM] ?
   [show ends 5:00 PM]

San Francisco Symphony

• Michael Tilson Thomas: music director;
• symphony members vary by program, see the current list.

• John Chisholm: second violin;
• Jonathan Dimmock: harpsichord;
• Mark Inouye: trumpet;
• Ton Koopman: conductor;
• Carolyn Sampson: soprano vox;
• Nadya Tichman: first violin;
• Peter Wyrick: cello;
• Amos Yang: cello.

What with weekday parking issues and BART delays, my well-planned trip is revealed to be only barely sufficient, and I sneak in to my mid-row seat only a moment before the opening announcement, whew!

TK is quite animated as a conductor, dancing and gesticulating joyously as he directs the reduced ensemble. The opening orchestral suite is very fun, full of lithe dancing rhythms, and I agree with the comment in the program notes that it's a shame Bach only wrote four such works.

The following cello concerto by CPE Bach is likewise excellent, and I particularly appreciate the fine woody tone of Wyrick's instrument. I am in a perfect spot to hear and watch him play, yay!

I found the CPE symphony that opened the second set to be the least of this afternoon's choices. Not that there was anything I disliked about it, only that I enjoyed the other works a bit more. Might have been due to a wandering state of mind on my part – I was surprised when they started the piece, and also at the transition to the final movement. And I wasn't even snoozing, just a little distracted. Wool-gathering somewhere inside my head instead of paying attention to the main event.

The final work on today's program, the cantata XX was quite an interesting piece. First off, it's one of very few pieces titled as a cantata by papa Bach – our modern reference to many of his works by that moniker is an appellation awarded after the fact. Secondly, this piece is also unusual in that their is no choir part. Thus the inner chorale sections are presented as soloist with reduced chamber accompaniment. I really enjoyed these parts, as the contrast and play of interlocking melodic lines is all the more apparent when stripped bare of harmonic accompaniment.

I should also comment on the excellence of the two soloists. CS was particularly distracting, wearing a spangly, clinging red evening gown, and it was difficult to resist watching her whenever she sang. Must be that same old response to the siren's call! MI played only during the first and final movements, but he did so admirably, working entirely from memory and discharging his duty in dazzling fashion.

It was a little awkward fitting today's matinee into my schedule, but I'm glad I did, it was great fun!

Stephen Smoliar had rather strong opinions to share about the show, you can read his thoughts at the Examiner website.

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