Hello readers:
To coin a hackneyed phrase, I’m back in the saddle again. My absence is due to personal complications and I can’t discuss them here. This is about music.
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I attended the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra performance on April 11, 2009. It was a wondrous performance and I enjoyed every second, every note, every nuance, and all the works performed. I especially appreciated the musicians and the conductor, Michael Morgan, for their labor of love.
At the start a change in the program was announced. The first piece of the evening was Richard Strauss’ Don Juan. This was followed by the Prelude in G Major by the young and talented composer Levi Saelua and then the multimedia work by Dave and Chris Brubeck entitled Ansel Adams: America. After intermission the orchestra performed Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. This was a long and demanding program for any orchestra its musicians. The Sacramento Philharmonic and Michael Morgan handled it with exceptional professionalism and musicianship.
With the beginning Don Juan there was a brief period of intonational jitters that passed quickly and never came back. The orchestra settled in and went to work with this demanding work. The horn section was absolutely marvelous. Richard Strauss was a horn player and never failed to give the horn section a major role in all his works. Here the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra’s horn section sent their sound soaring into the audience. They were confident, in tune and together. Bravo!
The next work by the new up-coming composer Levi Saelua is a case in point to justify the retention of music programs in our public schools. Without music education, we would be denied the talent of young people such as Levi, and this cannot be permitted to happen. In his composition “Prelude in G Major,” Mr. Saelua demonstrated a knowledgeable grasp of orchestration that exceeded his years of age. This work is based on Bach’s solo cello Suite #1. Saelua augmented the theme and modulated it through minor keys and progressed to a dominant pedal point to create tension. This work shows great promise for young Mr. Saelua. We can hope to hear much more from him.
The key stone piece for the evening was the work my Dave and Chris Brubeck, “Ansel Adams: America.” Last week the Stockton Symphony also performed this work. This was a multi-media piece that projected Ansel Adams photographs in conjunction with the music. The brass section opened this work with a warm sonorous sound. The strings followed then the woodwinds, and then the pianist. The music followed the visual presentation which began with views of Yosemite – its waterfalls, half-dome and El Capitan. From here the visuals took us to the South West which was represented by a Mexican musical flavor. This composition revolved an opening theme which morphed into sounds to support the fury of the falls and the majesty of Yosemite Valley and the grandeur of the South-western desert. The Brubecks took the audience on an enthralling trip though the photographs of Mr. Adams. The orchestra performed this work admirably with excellent ensemble, intonation and dynamic contrasts. This was a once in a life-time opportunity. One the audience will not forget. This work received a much deserved standing ovation. Again, bravo!
After intermission the final work was presented. Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. Here again Mr. Michael Morgan and the Sacramento Philharmonic showed their exceptional musical talents. The opening theme is presented by the solo clarinet, Ginger Kroft Barnetson. As a clarinetist in college I have to give praise to her wonderful rounded tone quality. This symphony has great demands on the solo clarinet and Ms. Kroft Barnetson demonstrated her exceptional talent throughout this performance. The solo clarinet theme at the beginning of the first movement pervades the symphony. It is carried from movement to movement and between instrumental sections. I must also give credit to David Granger the first bassoonist for his talent. Again in this work, the horn section is pushed to its limits. And, after the first half of the concert, their lips had to be reaching their limit, yet they showed no evidence of this. They excelled and produced a wonderfully confident sound. I cannot express all the wonderful sounds that this orchestra produced this night. I have to say that Mr. Michael Morgan demonstrated exemplary command of the orchestra and a highly directive style of conducting. Every section of this orchestra has to applauded for their musical abilities. Their dynamic changes, ensemble, intonation, and phrasings, showed them to be a musical group worthy of world-wide acclaim. This performance was a thrilling event. The audience showed their appreciation with another well deserved standing ovation. Bravo and bravo again.
Comments
you are clearly a moron and know nothing of "world class performances" Sacramento Philharmonic barely makes the bottom rung of orchestras in Northern California, much less on a world wide basis. The orchestra is filled with tertiary free-lance musicians and the remnants of a serious orchestra that existed there many years ago. Stupid commentary. You should be fired.
John, clearly YOU were not at Saturday night's performance, know nothing of the musician bios nor anything of the challenges this orchestra has been through to get to where it is today. As a member of the Sacramento Philharmonic since it's inception, I take offense at your comments.
It has been through the dedication, efforts and struggles of executive directors, music director, board, management, musicians and AFM Local 12, that the Sacramento Philharmonic was birthed & has survived to earn the berth of THE leading professional orchestra in Sacramento along with the support of the former Sacramento Symphony Board. Collaboration with both the Sacramento Opera and Ballet companies further evidence the status of this orchestra in the Sacramento region. The excellent leadership of our new (2yrs) executive director, Marc Feldman and his management team was on full display Saturday night. To my mind, this was the single best performance of the Philharmonic in all the concerts I have played over the years and the overall quality of musicianship has never been higher. Frankly, the horns have never sounded than they did that night--Kudos horns!!! We musicians take pride in our craft and it is unfair to expect a part-time, 5 subscription concert, regional orchestra to be the equal a 52 week full-time orchestra such as the SF Symphony. While a good number of the Philharmonic's musicians live in Sacramento, a substantial number of musicians make numerous sacrifices to commute in from all over California and other parts of the country to perform.
It would behoove you to take a look at the musician bios on the Philharmonic website: www.sacphil.org/orchestra.php You will notice that many of us also perform with the San Francisco Symphony, SF Opera, SF Ballet among other full time orchestras and ensembles throughout the country and world as substitutes or members. Backgrounds that certainly don't make us "third" level free-lance musicians. Do you have any idea how few and insanely competitive full-time orchestra positions are? Just because someone is without a position in a major orchestra, that does NOT mean they they are a marginal or incompetant musician. In fact, most members of major orchestras free-lanced for a period of time before winning their "big gig." The years of training, hard work and luck required to win one of these jobs is in par with winning a spot on an NBA or MLB sports team.
This season has seen artistic growth within the orchestra and I have every reason to believe that we will continue to grow and mature as an ensemble--especially with the current leadership and management team.
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