Old world met new Saturday night, courtesy of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, which paired two modern compositions with ambitious works by Tchaikovsky and Brahms.
Composer Miguel del Aguila joined the orchestra as pianist for his own "Conga Line in Hell,'' which got the evening off to a lively start, especially for the musicians, since some of the piece is in the difficult 13/16 time signature. However, this was no obstacle for the orchestra, which proved more than equal to the task. One could not only hear, but easily visualize, a netherworld nightclub, draped in shades of red, congas playing a rhythmic symphony for the devil. At times jazzy, delicate here, jarring there, graceful early on and ending with a bang, it was well-executed and equally well-received by the audience.
Another newer piece, composer Erika Nelson's "dVRG,'' written for the A2SO and cellist Yehuda Hanani, was the first of two on the program featuring Hanani. While perhaps challenging for the traditionalists in the audience, "dVRG,'' following as it did "Conga Line in Hell,'' showed the ensemble is as comfortable with 21st century compositions as it is old-school works. At the end of the number, Nelson ran on stage to congratulate Hanani, who did a marvelous job with a piece that at times seemed to echo Bernard Hermann's "Psycho'' score, and take a bow herself. Still, it was only a prelude for what was to finish the concert's first half, with the charismatic Hanani delivering an ear-popping solo on Tchaikovsky's lively "Variations on a Rococo Theme.''
Hanani is known for his colorful technique, which was clearly present and accounted for Saturday night. His expressive face conveying the passion he felt for the music, Hanani playfully sparred with conductor Arie Lipsky and concertmaster Adrienne Jacobs Ronmark, sometimes seeming as if his chair could barely contain him. The orchestra backed him up beautifully, and it was a tour-de-force for all concerned.
Intermission was not long enough to erase lingering impressions of the first half, but the symphony's performance of Johannes Brahms' Symphony No. 4 in E minor soon turned thoughts away from Hanani. A showcase for the entire ensemble, but especially the hard-working violins, it was a complex piece beautifully played, something we have become accustomed to with the A2SO.
Lipsky and the A2SO deserve credit, not only for their musicianship, but for their willingness to shake audiences up a bit. The mix of old and new was the perfect example.
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©2002-2008
Ann Arbor Symphony
220 E Huron St., Suite 470
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
(734) 994-4801
