Thomas Wilkins
Omaha World-Herald
Review: Omaha Symphony takes audience on musical adventure through 3 countries
By Drew Neneman / World-Herald correspondent
Jan 12, 2019
“3 Russians and 2 Frenchmen”
may sound like the beginning of a joke, but in classical music circles,
the names Maurice Ravel, Mikhail Glinka, Sergei Prokofiev, Claude
Debussy and Igor Stravinsky represent some serious content.
At
the Holland Center on Friday night, for the first of its two-weekend
“Russian, French and American Tales” festivals, the Omaha Symphony
presented these composers in a seriously successful program.
The
Overture to “Ruslan and Lyudmila” by Glinka opened the festival. This
less-well-known piece by the evening’s least-famous composer made up in
flash what it lacked in reputation. Swirling energetic passages
incorporated the entire orchestra and warmed up the audience’s ears with
panache.
Thomas
Wilkins, music director, conducted the orchestra with the ease,
enthusiasm and sensitivity that Omaha has come to expect from the
maestro.
The concert
continued with “Danses sacrée et profane” by Debussy. Ann Hobson Pilot
made her Omaha debut as the piece’s harp soloist.
Debussy’s
unconventional harmonies and reimagined textures combined with Pilot’s
dexterity for a dazzling display. Her speed and expressiveness on the
harp strings were palpably human, bringing Debussy’s unique musical
language to life. “Danses ” is not meant to tell any specific story, but
the beguiling and sensual textures of the work bring the flavors of
many human experiences to life. Ancient religious devotion and modern
romance were made real enough to almost touch by the orchestra and
Pilot’s performances.
Pilot
performed again as a soloist for Ravel’s “Introduction et Allegro.” The
selection had even more fingering acrobatics than the first harp
feature. Pilot’s control and creativity, especially in the solistic
passages, was exciting and moving. Pilot received an almost instant
standing ovation.
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