Music Reviews

Nov 16, 1999 - The Jekowsky Golden Age Continues at the Reno Phil

By Jack Neal

The Reno Philharmonic played its third MasterClassics concert of the season Tuesday (11/16/99) at the Pioneer Center and once again the orchestra and Barry Jekowsky, its brilliant young conductor, pulled out all the right stops for another exciting outing with splendid music.

CDs may have made scratched phonograph records that keep doing repeat double takes a thing of the past, but it's the repeat, repeat, repeat of superb programs that's keeping local symphony goers singing ecstatic hymns of praise concert in and concert out. And for good reason: The Reno Philharmonic is playing at an exceptionally high level of performance.

Copland's majestic "Appalachian Spring" was stunning for its attention to detail, a beautifully crafted performance. Is there another composer who has captured the sound of America so indelibly as has Copland? Jekowsky's judiciously sculpted approach savored the confines of Copland's simplicity of style to build upon the work's nostalgia and poignancy for one increasingly powerful statement after another. There was no fuss, no extraneous conductorial nonsense; just lush strings, controlled, soaring brass, percussion at home with the work's tricky rhythmic diversities and woodwinds who adroitly managed Copland's astringent, yet gorgeous colorations.

Especially noteable was clarinetist David Ehrke's haunting playing in the piece's introduction of characters. The elegant and plaintive playing of Andrea Lenz (oboe) and Mary Miller (flute) cannot be passed over without comment, nor the very specific rhythmic punctuations of timpanist Robert Lightfoot. All four made major contributions to the success of the Copland as did the entire orchestra. But ultimately it was Jekowsky's authority with the Copland and the enthusiasm and maturity he brings to the work that made the performance such a powerhouse of flashing rhythms and melodic beauty.

Likewise, Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 - one of the composer's most triumphant utterances - was brilliantly conducted and played. The first movement was strong and craggy with waves of sound that were driven by a deep and passionate conviction for the music by all involved. Jekowsky moved the second movement along with dispatch (it's often taken at too slow a tempo) for an affecting reading of this march-like movement without giving it a driven quality. The third movement was pumped and energetic with a traditionally slower middle section than Beethoven indicated, but not so much so as to be a drag on the movement's momentum. Jekowsky and company produced one of the most powerful, impassioned, exciting fourth movements I've heard. Bravo for the entire symphony. It was superbly brought off.

Pianist Helen Huang, now 15, has spent half her life concertizing. Miss Huang has a growing reputation as a prodigious young star and has launched a remarkable international career. She does play beautifully. Her collaboration with Jekowsky and the orchestra for Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 was impeccable - a real dazzler. There are no more exquisite musical statements in all of music than Mozart's piano concertos and Miss Huang has been well schooled in the finesses of what she played here.

However, the fire that must be ignited for that added quality that elevates a child virtuoso and prodigy into a pianist of revelatory performances and a unique stature has not yet been ignited. Miss Huang's talent and potential is without question, but she's a bit too cool and aloof for the warmth that's at the heart of all of Mozart's concertos. She plays crisply, accurately - even beautifully, but without much imagination. It's my guess that this extraordinarily gifted young woman will find the imagination great music requires, when she leaves the cocoon that normally surrounds a prodigious young life and finds out more of what life's about.

On a more sobering note for the orchestra and its audiences, Tuesday's was the last Reno Philharmonic concert to be overseen by Barry Auman, the orchestra's excellent manager. Barry Auman has been one of the major forces in making the Reno Philharmonic the increasingly important regional symphony orchestra it is. His presence will be missed.

The next performance of the Reno Philharmonic will be the orchestra's annual "Spirit of the Season" concert, December 4, at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 South Virginia Street, Reno. For information call 775-323-6393.