Central and Eastern Kentucky
(2010-02-09)
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Lexington Herald Leader Arts and Cultural Reporter Rich Copley.
LEXINGTON, KY (WEKU) - To some, it might seem redundant, but classical music lovers might enjoy two different interpretations of the same piece, both live, and both performed within a week. The opportunity presents itself this weekend and next in Lexington. Arts and Cultural Reporter Rich Copley, of the Lexington Herald Leader Newspaper, explains.
German Composer Max Bruch is not one of the three B's of classical music: Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. Lexington Philharmonic Concertmaster Daniel Mason even questions whether he'd be in a second tier of three B's. But Bruch did write one great violin concerto.
"It's interesting that a composer such as Bruch, who is not one of the Three Bs, was able to pack so many good musical ideas into this one piece. If he had spread them out over several pieces, he would be a good composer of that rank. But because he was able to concentrate all those good ideas in one piece, that piece really makes the reputation of the composer," said Mason.
Central Kentucky's music fans have two chances to hear live performances of the Bruch Concerto this month. Friday, the Philharmonic presents it at the Singletary Center for the Arts in Lexington. The soloist will be Arnaud Sussmann, who won an Avery Fisher career grant last year. Eight days later, international recording artist Sarah Chang will play it, on the same stage.
The University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra will accompany Chang in the Feb. 20 performance. Jessica Miskelly is the U-K Symphony's concertmaster.
"Another thing is being distracted and watching the soloist instead of watching the conductor. That can be slightly challenging for a student orchestra that is excited to have a great soloist here," said Miskelly.
So, what is so great about this concerto? "If you set a recipe for a violin concerto, the things that you would want as a violinist are all there in the Bruch concerto. For example, at the beginning of the piece, you don't have to wait very long to play. When you do play, you play a beautiful, sonorous G-minor melody. It makes it very inviting to play because the sound on the open G-string on the violin is one of the better features of the instrument. So, at the beginning of the piece, it makes you as a player says, "Oh! Nice sound," Mason said.
Mason says the concerto gets progressively challenging for soloists, giving them chances to show off. He says it also challenges the orchestra.
"It's arguable that there is a passage in the first violin part in the accompaniment by the orchestra which is more technically demanding than anything in the violin solo part," said Mason.
Jessica Miskelly appreciates those qualities, but focuses on the pure beauty of the piece.
"I can still remember the first time that I ever heard the piece. We were driving along in my parents' car, and it came on halfway through the first movement, and then it went into that gorgeous second movement, and it gripped me. I probably had my mouth open the whole time. And I think it is for that second movement that violinists and audiences keep coming back to it over and over again," Miskelly said.
That Central Kentucky audiences have a chance to hear this piece twice, live, in eight days, is a rare treat.
"To find two world-class performances of it in a span of eight days in a relatively small city is probably unique in the country this year," said Mason.
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