New Century Chamber Orchestra at Nourse Theater, March 7, 2015

NCCO presents New Century Chamber Orchestra, with guest concertmaster, Glenn Dicterow
2015-03-07
Nourse Theater
275 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA
8:00 PM, Saturday, March 7, 2015

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[8:01 PM lights down, announcements]

Wolfgang Mozart (1756-1791): Divertimento in D Major K. 136 (1772)

1. [8:02 PM] Allegro
2. [8:07 PM] Andante
3. [8:12 PM] Presto
   [work ends 8:15 PM; all off for a minute or so]

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907): Two Nordic Melodies, Op 63 (1895)

1. [8:16 PM] Im Volkston (Popular Song)
2. [8:24 PM] Kuhreigen und Bauertanz (Cow-keeper's tune and country dance)
   [work ends 8:28 PM; all off for a minute or so]

Gustav Holst (1874-1934): St. Paul's Suite, Op. 29, No.2 (1913)

1. [8:29 PM] Jig
2. [8:32 PM] Ostinato
3. [8:34 PM] Intermezzo
4. [8:39 PM] Finale (the Dargason)
   [set ends 8:42 PM]

[9:02 PM lights down, just the sextet present]

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Sextet for Strings No. 1 in Bb Major, Op 18 (1860)

1. [9:02 PM] Allegro, ma non troppo
2. [9:17 PM] Andante, ma moderato
3. [9:23 PM] Scherzo: Allegro molto
4. [9:27 PM] Rondo: Poco Allegretto e grazioso
   [show ends 9:37 PM, all off after a few minutes for repeated bows and applause]

New Century Chamber Orchestra

• Hanna Addario-Berry: cello;
• Hrabba Atladottir: second violin;
• Robin Bonnell: cello;
• Michelle Djokic: acting principal cello;
• Jenny Douglass: viola;
• Candace Guirao: principal second violin;
• Dawn Harms: associate concertmaster, violin;
• Anna Kruger: principal viola;
• Anthony Manzo: contrabass;
• Robin Mayforth: first violin;
• Jeremy Preston: second violin;
• Deborah Tien Price: second violin;
• Elizabeth Prior: viola;
• Cassandra Lynne Richberg: viola;
• Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg: music director, violin (absent tonight);
• Karen Shinozaki Sor: first violin;
• Iris Stone: first violin;
• Erin Wang: cello;
• Michael Yokas: second violin.

Glenn Dicterow

• Glenn Dicterow: guest concertmaster, violin.

A nice show tonight, very consistent with past NCCO performances despite the leadership substitution. Set one was pleasant – always good to start with Mozart! – and the addition of the pieces by Grieg and Holst made for a bit of novelty. I think I'd heard the Grieg before, but the Holst work was definitely new to me, and fun to listen to.

Set two, performed by a reduced group – as fitting for a sextet! – was interesting for Brahms. It seemed to me that much of the writing for this work centered on the sonority of the viola and cello rather than the brilliance of the violins. And with six parts, it made for an interesting challenge to the ear – just enough to keep the attention ready to jump at any moment towards the most interesting part! Makes me think I ought to give the old guy another chance!

Stephen Smoliar commented in his review that this was Brahms at his best, and with that, I wholehearedly agree: I would much rather listen to Brahms experiment with counterpoint than the lugubrious sonorities of his symphonic works.

David Bratman posted a review for SFCV; interestingly, Bratman complained most about the Brahms. Different strokes…

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2015 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2015 event list! ☸ On to the next event!