One of the benefits of spending these years in Cleveland is going to the Cleveland Orchestra, one of my two favorite orchestras in the world. (The other one is the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.)
This weekend we went to hear:
Suite from Pelléas et Mélisande, Opus 80 by Gabriel Fauré
Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Opus 31 by Benjamin Britten and
Symphony in D minor, by César Franck
Marek Janowski, conductor
Matthew Polenzani, tenor
Richard King, horn
I loved the Fauré. The Cleveland Orchestra has the maturity to handle just about anything, and it really shows in the subtleties of this wistful, romantic, modally colored piece. The charming Sicilienne in particular was perfection itself, and I would gladly hear it over and over again.
The Britten, which is the piece I was excited about, was disappointing. The orchestra was superb and the music is absolutely fantastic. But the whole thing hinges on the soloists, and though the horn player was outstanding (what a wonderful instrument!) the tenor was a deal breaker. Though he was an excellent musician—his phrasing and diction were exquisite—the voice itself was stripped of all chest in the sound, and had a very fast bleating vibrato. I personally don't like that feminized sound in a male voice. Even a tenor should have a good warm baritone in the bottom that threads throughout the voice. And I believe Britten wrote the piece to balance the horn with a deeper male sound. Without the grounded male voice the sonorities were lost.
I would like to mention that, aside from Irad, I may be alone in this evaluation as the piece received a standing ovation. Truly, the horn player alone merited the cheers!
The Franck symphony was expertly performed but not my favorite music. Yes, it shows what can be done with a large symphony, but it is a lot of strings and brass, a lot of sound—as in look what a full symphony orchestra can do! —and very artful weaving of repeated themes throughout—but it reads bombastic to my ears. But people love it!
Best of all is sitting in the beautiful hall. It is like being cradled in an envelope of golden warmth. The art deco highlights, the marble staircases - just gorgeous. And the sound is better than any symphony hall I've sat in, with the exception of Carnegie Hall.
orchestra takes the stage
This weekend we went to hear:
Suite from Pelléas et Mélisande, Opus 80 by Gabriel Fauré
Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Opus 31 by Benjamin Britten and
Symphony in D minor, by César Franck
Marek Janowski, conductor
Matthew Polenzani, tenor
Richard King, horn
I loved the Fauré. The Cleveland Orchestra has the maturity to handle just about anything, and it really shows in the subtleties of this wistful, romantic, modally colored piece. The charming Sicilienne in particular was perfection itself, and I would gladly hear it over and over again.
The Britten, which is the piece I was excited about, was disappointing. The orchestra was superb and the music is absolutely fantastic. But the whole thing hinges on the soloists, and though the horn player was outstanding (what a wonderful instrument!) the tenor was a deal breaker. Though he was an excellent musician—his phrasing and diction were exquisite—the voice itself was stripped of all chest in the sound, and had a very fast bleating vibrato. I personally don't like that feminized sound in a male voice. Even a tenor should have a good warm baritone in the bottom that threads throughout the voice. And I believe Britten wrote the piece to balance the horn with a deeper male sound. Without the grounded male voice the sonorities were lost.
I would like to mention that, aside from Irad, I may be alone in this evaluation as the piece received a standing ovation. Truly, the horn player alone merited the cheers!
The Franck symphony was expertly performed but not my favorite music. Yes, it shows what can be done with a large symphony, but it is a lot of strings and brass, a lot of sound—as in look what a full symphony orchestra can do! —and very artful weaving of repeated themes throughout—but it reads bombastic to my ears. But people love it!
Best of all is sitting in the beautiful hall. It is like being cradled in an envelope of golden warmth. The art deco highlights, the marble staircases - just gorgeous. And the sound is better than any symphony hall I've sat in, with the exception of Carnegie Hall.
gold leaf ceiling
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