|
diversions
Strings bring
No. 5 alive
By Sarah Langford
On-line Forty-Niner
The Long Beach
Symphony Orchestra delighted an audience of more than 2,500
with its performance of Beethoven's famous piece, Symphony
No. 5, at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach Saturday.
The orchestra also performed Concerto No. 5 and the Coriolan
Overture, both by Beethoven. Alessandro Siciliani, guest conductor
to the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, directed the performance
and the concerto featured guest pianist Norman Kreiger.
Prior to the 8 p.m. concert, Bruce Langford, a professor of
music at Long Beach City College, hosted a free concert preview.
His comments included an account of Beethoven's life in addition
to insightful explanations of the evening's music.
"Beethoven's Fifth Symphony appeals to both classically-oriented
audiences, and one that never attends symphony concerts,"
Langford said. "We have to ask ourselves: Why? Most of
the first movement is just four notes being constantly repeated.
"What is remarkable about Beethoven is that he could
get 12 minutes of music out of those four notes, and the listener
doesn't even notice," Langford added.
Toward the end of the preview, Langford interviewed Kreiger,
who teaches at the University of Southern California in addition
to maintaining a busy performance schedule.
"The piano is a jealous mistress," Kreiger said.
"The repertoire is so rich and the standard so high that
pianists spend enormous amounts of time alone.
Kreiger also credited Beethoven for the sophistication of
the modern day piano.
"The instruments in Beethoven's day frustrated him because
they wouldn't produce the sound he desired and demanded. He
was constantly pushing to have the piano improved," he
said.
"The concerto I'll be playing tonight is a perfect example
of Beethoven's pushing," he said. "The Emperor Concerto
exploits the piano's capabilities in all areas, including
dynamics and note range. It is universally recognized as one
of the most athletic, demanding pieces of piano music. To
play it, you have to get it into your bones."
During the concert, Kreiger played the piece masterfully.
He had a command of the piano that combined feeling with precision,
and made for a flawless performance. At the end of the concerto
the audience stood and applauded him continuously, until he
acquiesced and gave an encore performance.
The orchestra also played at a superior level under the direction
of Maestro Siciliani. The conductor used large, dramatic and
sweeping movements, often turning at the waist until he almost
completely faced the audience, then turning back around and
leaping into the air with both feet, and finally crouching
low to the ground. The orchestra followed his every gesture
and delivered a magnificent performance.
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Search our site
DEPARTMENT
OF
JOURNALISM
ONLINE 49ER
DEPARTMENTS
ADVERTISING
ADMINISTRATION
DAILY
49ER ALUMNI
SUBSCRIPTION
SERVICE
GIVE
FEEDBACK
|
