New York Philharmonic – Free Indoor Concert in Staten Island. June 16, 2019.

St. George Theatre, Staten Island.  Front Mezzanine A (Free).

Program

Artists

Philip Smith – Conductor/Host/Trumpet; Christopher Martin – Trumpet, Ethan Bensdorf – Trumpet, Thomas Smith – Trumpet, Kenneth DeCarlo – Trumpet, R. Allen Sanjer – Horn, Chad Yarbrough – Horn, David Finlayson – Trombone, Paul Belino – Trombone, Kyle Mendiguchia – Bass Trombone, Philip Broome – Euphonium Alan Baer – Tuba, Daniel Druckman – Percussion, James Saporito – Percussion.

Evidently it’s a musical organization’s civic duty to give a series of free concerts (usually “in the park”) at the end of the regular season.  The Met does them at locations that are difficult to get to.  The New York Phil usually has one in Staten Island, and in a week or so we may go to the one at Marine Park, Red Bank, by the New Jersey Symphony.

This was our first encounter with the St. George Theatre, built in the 1920s.  It is definitely in the ornate rococo style.  I couldn’t help comparing it with Count Basie.  St. George has perhaps twice the seating (2700 vs 1500?), better acoustics, and felt more decrepit than Count Basie.  One thing that came through was “loud and clear.”  Even though sound from brass and percussion instruments tends to travel well, I was still amazed at how they traveled up to the upper reaches of the auditorium.

The program for the first half would be characterized as “traditional” – for lack of a better word.  Many of the composers were well -known, even though the pieces have been adapted for brass and percussion.

As Phil Smith indicated, the second half was more “American, jazzy, and patriotic.”

There are some pieces that showcase how harmonious a group of brass instruments can sound like.  We heard that in Germany from a street group.  Too bad not enough of that was showcased this afternoon.

A word about Phil Smith.  He used to be the Principal Trumpet at New York Philharmonic, but retired a few years ago to join the faculty at the University of Georgia.  He provided some interesting commentary to the pieces that were performed today.

It must be thrilling to have your work performed by the New York Philharmonic in public, especially if you are only a teenager (actual Hu is only 11).  To learn how to write for different instruments in an orchestral setting is no easy feat.

We drove up to Staten Island after church, and didn’t stay for the encore as Ellie and family are visiting.