The season finale....

The season finale of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra was a bit like the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears: one piece was too hot, one was too cold, and the other was just right. Music Director Robert Spano conducted this concert of two familiar works and one new piece. For the complete review, click here:  https://bachtrack.com/22/296/view/15845

Photos:  Nunnally Rawson

In Brief...

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO),  Georgia Public Broadcasting, and the producers of the documentary film, "Robert Shaw: Man of Many Voices" presented "Stars Shine on Shaw: a musical tribute to the life and legacy of Robert Shaw."   The purpose of the concert was, in part, to raise funds to actually produce the documentary. If more information is needed go here: https://www.facebook.com/RobertShawTheFilm

If there is a more sterling group of performers assembled this season in Atlanta's classical concert season, AMC will be very surprised.  Its difficult to top Christine Brewer, Lynn Harrell, Sylvia McNair, Marietta Simpson and Robert Spano.  Each of these performers had their lives touched in one way or another by Robert Shaw, the great choral conductor and former music director of the ASO.

Sylvia McNair provided  spirited and charming excerpts from Cateloub's "Chants d'Avergne "  Not only is she a great singer, Ms. McNair brought a bit of her acting skills during the performance.  This is music that is romantic, playful, boasting, grateful, and exciting.  She hit it all.

Christine Brewer sang the magnificent "Wesendonck Lieder" by Richard Wagner.  AMC heard Ms. Brewer at the Blossom Music Festival this past summer- she was outstanding then as she was here.   Click here to read that review: http://www.atlantamusiccritic.com/2013/07/were-talking-world-class-here.html.  These lieder are at once yearning, sad, reflective, and loving.  The music foreshadowed Wagner's Tristan and were written for his mistress at the time, the titular Mrs. Wesendonck.  Ms. Brewer is one of our finest soprano's and she reached and found the haunting core of this music.

Ms. Brewer

Mr. Harrell performed the familiar Bach Cello Suite No 1.  AMC felt that the Prelude was played a bit underwhelmingly with some bowing problems.  But as the performance progressed it become apparent why Mr. Harrell is a renowned cellist and a great musician.  Bach's music is sublime and this was a focused, sensitive performance.

Ms. Simpson, accompanied by Mr. Spano performed three traditional spirituals.  These are eloquent songs, powerful in their sadness, loneliness, desperation, and hopelessness.  Ms. Simpson did them justice.

Unfortunately, there were twice as many open seats as there were occupied seats.  This was a chance to see really grand talent but the audience just wasn't there.  Too bad.

To hear a version of  the Wagner piece, go here:

The Invisible Man...

Here is a nice review of Robert Spano's two recent concerts in New York: http://www.concertonet.com/scripts/review.php?ID_review=9056.  Obviously these were well received.  AMC recently made a comment, for which AMC was criticized about Mr. Spano's near invisibility at Atlanta's Symphony Hall this year.  AMC counted the number of times Mr. Spano appeared on the podium at a traditional classical concert this year.  Of the 25 concerts, he has performed and is scheduled to appear in 12 of them.  That is slightly less than half.  Does that equate to near invisibility? Well for an orchestra that has a very large operating deficit and a Music Director, i.e., Spano,  that earns about half a million per year, 50% fits AMC's definition.  There are several recent article's about the finances of US orchestra's and their perilous situations.  There have been cries for new business models, but ultimately discussants decry the lack of music education in schools.  AMC has suggested that one step would be to require that more concerts be conducted by their high priced music director's.  AMC stands by that recommendation  and though Spano received kudos in New York, better he stay in Atlanta and save the ASO of having to pay for the fee and expenses of guest conductors.  

Robert Spano on community

http://tedxatlanta.com/videos/03132012-community/robert-spano/