Live Broadcast - Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Louis Langree, conductor; Augustin Hadelich, violin. October 24, 2020.

Program

The Unanswered Question by Charles Ives (1874-1954).

Concerto in A Major for Violin and String Orchestra, Op. 5, No. 2 by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1754-1799).

Pulcinella Suite by Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971).

CSO is offering a series of digital concerts for free, donations accepted.

This is the first live concert I have viewed since COVID restrictions hit in mid-March.  There were a maximum of about 40 musicians on stage, which can easily accommodate four times as many people.  Each musician sits alone, with partitions between the wind instruments.  All other players wear masks, and the seating is "reversed" so the conductor is in the back of the stage and the winds at the front: makes sense as the front is most open.

I have heard the Ives piece a couple of times before, performed by the New York Phil, conducted by Dudamel and Gilbert.  Here Langree said he wasn't even sure what the question was; NY Phil claimed it to be question on existence.

Bologne was born in Guadeloupe to a slave mother; his father was a wealthy landowner.  He eventually moved to France and was a composer, virtuoso violinist, conductor, and a champion fencer to boot.  He was a prolific composer, with 6 operas and many violin concertos among his works.  And this was the first time I heard about him.  His work reminded me more of Vivaldi than Mozart, both in sound and in apparent difficulty.  The concerto wasn't easy, but I imagine within reach of most violin students.  It was always enjoyable to see Hadelich perform.  The clarity of his sound is simply amazing.

We had heard Pulcinella only once before, and it was adapted for three brass instruments.  Today had a "full" complement of musicians.  This was composed during Stravinsky's "neo-classical" period, and it was reasonably easy to get.

The Bologne concerto has three movements: Allegro moderato, Largo and Rondeau.  The Pulcinella Suite comprises of the following: Sinfonia, Serenata, Scherzino, Tarantella, Toccata, Gavotta con due variazioni, Vivo, Minuetto, and Finale.

I am glad to have caught this concert.

Dimmed lighting for Charles Ives' The Unanswered Question.

Hadelich performing Bologne's Violin Concerto No. 2.

Stravinsky's Pulcinella.  Notice the partitions placed between the wind instruments.

About 40 members on stage.  Each person by him/herself.