State Theatre, New
Brunswick, NJ. Orchestra (seat O106,
$18.)
Program
Vocalise, Op.
34, No. 14 (1912, rev. 1915) by Rachmaninoff (1873-1943).
Rhapsody on a
Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 (1934) by Rachmaninoff.
Symphony No. 6
in E-flat Minor, Op. 111 (1945-47) by Prokofiev (1891-1953).
In the past few
years I would get an email from NJSO announcing their Thanksgiving sale, which
would typically have the ticket prices reduced by 50%. I didn’t get any (or missed it) for this
season. After midnight on Thanksgiving I
decided to visit the NJSO website to see what was on offer. Turns out they were offering a “Black Friday”
special where most seats would sell for $15, plus a $3 per ticket handling
fee. I grabbed four pairs at that price.
I am writing
this on December 16, two weeks after the concert, and frankly do not remember
much of it, even though I made a mental note of what I wanted to jot down during
the concert.
Anne and I were
in Ireland on Halloween 2014, and attended a Halloween-themed classical concert
that featured the Rachmaninoff Rhapsody.
A few things we learned (probably reinforced during the intervening
several years) were still fresh in my mind, in particular the Dies Irae theme
and the inverted melody. I also took a
look at the score and found out there were 24 variations (if memory serves), so
quite short. Today’s performance was
very enjoyable. Stephen Hough pounded it
out quite methodically, but it was a lively performance. He played one of Chopin’s Nocturnes as
encore.
At the conclusion of the concert. My finger was in the way of the lens, evidently. Need to get use to this new iPhone I am using.
So I have some
record of the other two pieces, let me at least quote from the Program. On the Vocalise: “Originally a wordless song
for voice and piano, Vocalise has been arranged for numerous other instrumental
combinations. In the composer’s
orchestration, violins deliver the ravishing soprano melody.” On Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 6: “The
trajectory of this rarely heard wartime work moves gradually from darkness,
through lyricism, to affirmation. A
march frames the first-movement development.
The eloquent central Largo is warm and expressive, while a Haydnesque
motor rhythm propels the finale.” The
three movements of the Symphony are: Allegro moderato, Largo, and Vivace. This was the first time the NJSO performed it.
I did remember
this as being a worthwhile event, especially consider the cost and closeness of
State Theatre to our house. Too bad
there were many empty seats in the auditorium.
I was seated in the orchestra section and noticed several rows with very
few people in them.
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