Last night the Kremlin Chamber Orchestra performed in Conway
Boatman Chapel as part of the FAA of Southeastern Kentucky’s 2013-2014 concert
season. What a privilege it was to host this outstanding string orchestra. These
musicians were technically sound and their musicality was brilliant!They opened with Elgar’s Serenade for Strings in e minor. With its broad sweeping gestures set in a tonal framework, it was an exquisite work to begin the program. I found myself moved by this serenade as the sound filled the room and swept over the audience.
The Shostakovich symphony was an excellent programming choice, though it may have been a bit more challenging for some listeners since it left one apprehensive with its sharp attacks and dissonant leanings. Shostakovich dedicated the work “In Memory of Victims of Fascism and War.” Although I was taken with the piece, there were a few concert goers I spoke with who found it to be harmonically challenging. The conductor may have (in part) taken this into account when he decided to immediately follow the symphony (with no break or applause) with Contrapunctus No. 1 from The Art of the Fugue by J. S. Bach. In the program notes, Misha Rachlevsky (the conductor) explained his reasoning: “Years ago, when I began performing this work, it struck me how unsettling it felt to hear the applause after this composition. . . . The moment I thought of Bach’s First Contrapunctus, it just felt right. Starting in the similar emotional atmosphere as the opening of the Chamber Symphony . . . it then takes a drastically different road, becoming a majestic hymn to the human spirit.” Playing the Bach fugue after the Shostakovich serves two purposes I believe; it relieves the unsettled feeling of applause and it also releases musical tension for those who are challenged by the harmonics of the work.
[Side note: The
“subject” (or theme) of Bach’s Contrapunctus No. I is played and examined in my
Introduction to Music class. It is my hope some students recognized the theme.]
After intermission, the consort played Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings. Once again, in
terms of programming, this was an excellent choice to end the concert; it truly
was a serenade and offered release and balance to the evening.The musicians welcomed our efforts to make them comfortable and Misha expressed his appreciation for the chapel and its lovely acoustics.
A big thank you to Alexandra Estes and Cody Sizemore for assisting
me last night. There was much to do in hosting
this group and I could not have done it without their able assistance. I also want to express my
appreciation to safety, the physical plant crew, Don Merriam, and Bobby Doolin.
It is vital concert goers (from all around Southeastern Kentucky) leave
our campus with an appreciation for the ambiance of our beautiful chapel and
the helpfulness/professionalism of the Union College Community.
Virginia Gay
(PS "Blog Too" and the footer are currently not taking updates)
(PS "Blog Too" and the footer are currently not taking updates)
Postlude: There were a few comments from faculty, audience
members, and the orchestra’s manager concerning the noise produced by the HVAC.
I explained we do have a switch in place to shut the system down just prior to
a concert beginning, but the system was being “allowed” to kick back on for
some reason. What I didn’t say was this has been an ongoing issue for a couple
of years, which needs to be remedied.