A group of composers were addressing students at the Peabody Conservatory of music in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 19, 1959. “You must love art more than you love yourselves and more than you love your success in art…..our greatest joy comes when we bring joy to others.” Those sentimental words were spoken by Dmitri Kabelevsky on a visit to the United States, along with Dmitri Shostakovich, T.N Khrennikov, Fikret Amirov, and Konstantin Dankevich.
Kabelevsky and Khrennikov were the only ones to address the assemblage directly. Shostakovich was only allowed to speak through a KGB interpreter, and that was brief. Shostakovich was still regarded as a dissident who might say the wrong thing that the state would not approve of. One of the young students at that assembly was myself. The words were quoted in the Baltimore Sun, the next day.
Jump to Nov. 12, 2005, the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra enjoyed a rousing, successful concert, “Riveting Russians,” by performing two works by Kabelevsky and Shostakovich, along with a third work by Tchaikovsky. Kabelevsky’s exuberance for life and art shows in all his music. Technical demands, rhythmic drive, and communicative skillful themes abound in his music. The concert opened with the “Vivace Giocoso” movement from his “Concerto for Violin and Orchestra.” The soloist was the latest Florence Andrew Young Artist Award winner, Isabel Ong, a diminutive 11-year-old with an enormous fervor in her playing. She attacked the difficulties of this composition with strength and clear tone that was certainly well beyond her years. Technically facile, she charmed the audience with her musicality and strong, assured presence. Isabel received a well-deserved standing ovation. Six sections of Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” ballet were performed by the Indiana Ballet Theatre Northwest. Around 20 of the 150-strong company were involved in the concert. The company was founded in 1980 and is under the direction of Gloria Tuohy.
Unfortunately, the lead dancers' names were not in the program, but the female lead dancer in the “Scena” gave an excellent performance in her portrayal of “The Swan.”
The second half of the program was given over to a performance of the “Symphony No. 5” by Shostakovich. As I recall, as much as Kabelevsky was outgoing and exuberant, Shostakovich was quiet and more introverted. His opera “Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk” was the work that raised the ire of the state rulers. The Fifth Symphony was the work that allowed Shostakovich to once again be regarded in favor.
The work is demanding and a difficult work to perform. It requires a wide range of pitches and intensity from the players. The orchestra and its conductor, Philip Bauman, showed great accomplishment in the performance of this monumental symphony. All the soloists in the various sections of the orchestra played well. The playing was clear, clean, and emotionally moving. For this concert, the orchestra was placed on the Civic Auditorium floor. On a previous occasion, there were wooden sheets laid under the string section. This afforded the opportunity for the strings to produce a more resonant sound, and enable them to balance the winds and brass. The only drawback to this concert was the fact that the wood was not employed. Therefore, the violins were at a slight disadvantage.
They could be heard, but the optimum balance could not be achieved. I think that the performance would have been absolutely stunning if the strings were allowed more incisive tone, especially on the first movement when they expressed the main theme. However, this was the best string playing from this orchestra in a while.
On the whole, a complete success, and this was a difficult musical event. It was a challenging evening, and all the performers deserved the audience’s adulation.
As an added bonus, artists Thaddeus and Laura Cutler painted their impressions in the back of the auditorium during the performance. An interesting concept and the resulting artwork was stunning. |
