Music Reviews

Nov 18, 2002 - The Reno Phil's Golden Oldies meets the Freshness of Marimbist Makoto Nakura

By Jack Neal

Like the grand duchess who fusses over which jewels to display on special occasions, the Reno Philhamonic's maestro, Barry Jekowsky, fusses only over the symphonic repertory's grandest of jewels for his regular-season concerts at Reno's Pioneer Center.

Who could possibly resist a Sunday (11/17/2002) matinee program of Haydn's robust Symphony No. 60, "Il Distratto," and Mendelssohn's vivacious Symphony No. 4, "The Italian," when they are as superbly played as they are under Jekowsky's assured baton?

The Haydn and Mendelssohn are givens; marvelous works adored by generations. What is not a given because it hasn't been heard here before, is Kevin Puts's sumptuous Marimba Concerto written especially for the orchestra's guest artist, marimbist Makoto Nakura. Sandwiched between two golden oldies, this fresh upstart of a concerto is staking a claim of its own for a place in the sun as a tried-and-now-true addition to the symphonic repertory.

The Puts is filled with warm colorations, rapturous melodies, and enticing textures embraced by a rich orchestration that wraps itself around the percussiveness of the marimba in a disarmingly deceptive way. It's an adventure in lyricism one hardly expects from a mallet-driven instrument. But, then, why not? The piano is a mallet-driven instrument, and it can be eminently lyric.

That Nakura's playing should be so affecting is no surprise. That the concerto should be so alluring is a surprise. Puts is a composer of rare gifts whose music isn't just accessible, it's immensely attractive and majestically constructed without ostentation. The titles of its three movements give some inkling of the piece's lack of pretention. Titled "...terrific sun on the brink," "...into the quick of losses," and "...logarithms, exponents, the damnedest of metaphors" the concerto is a marvel of invention and simplicity. It's performance here is nothing less than a triumph.

Haydn's Symphony No. 60 is one of the composer's most engaging works. Originally incidental music for a play about an absent-minded young man, "Il Distratto" is architectural perfection, and entirely charming. The orchestra's strings are rich of sound, extraordinarily precise and in spirited top shape, which only enhances the Haydn's sense of droll theatricality.

Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony is being given the kind of vibrant performance that only adds to its legendary reputation. Jekowsky's is a free-flowing, cut-loose reading, yet there is no hint of edge. The brasses are satiny, the strings play with an enviable sheen, the woodwinds dazzle, and the percussion anchor with an elasticity that allows conductorial shaping and molding in the most flamboyant (a plus), and subtle of ways. This is as good as Mendelssohn gets - an in-all-ways terrific performance.

The concert will be repeated Tuesday, November 19, 2002, at 7:30 p.m. at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts., 100 South Virginia Street, Reno. The Reno Philharmonic's annual Spirit of the Season concert will be Dec. 7. The orchestra's next subscription concert will be Jan. 12 and 14, 2003, with cellist Yehuda Hanani and featuring the music of Bach, Ravel, Schumann and Stravinsky. Barry Jekowsky will conduct. For information call 775-323-6393 or 775-686-6600.