Tamarkin and Brainerd interpret Shawn's work with aplomb [Excerpts]

By: Dan Wolfe
From the Aisle Seat, March, 2003

    The Vermont Symphony Orchestra concert was exceptionally fine and exciting last Saturday evening, 22 March. Kate Tamarkin, former Artistic Director and conductor was enthusiastically welcomed back to the podium, and she brought with her a new work by Bennington composer Allen Shawn, as well as the baritone, Clayton Brainerd, who had originated the role. The work, entitled "And in the air these sounds...," was commissioned for the 100th anniversary of the birth of John Steinbeck by the Monterey Symphony Orchestra, Tamarkin's new post.
   The work is about half an hour in length, and is a marvelous piece of music, beautifully imagined by Shawn and superbly orchestrated. It is highly lyrical, and, although the vocabulary is certainly 20th century, the lyricism is richer and fuller than many a new work. The format of the work comes through in the first hearing, even if the difficult-to-follow text is less clear. Shawn's sensitivity to the text is clear as he returns, as does the text, continually to a new start, although the musical expressions of the return are varied, while the verbal text is more literal.
   Shawn could not have had a better interpreter of the music than either Brainerd or Tamarkin. Nor is any imagination needed to understand why Tamarkin brought Brainerd with her for these two performances. Brainerd uses the full potential of his voice both to render a nuanced interpretation of the text and to rise with ease over the orchestral texture.
   Tamarkin's handling of the orchestra was as clear as ever, and the orchestra followed her every direction in the Shawn and in the rest of the program. It was a thrilling an evening as the recent Mahler program.
   ... It was especially good to see Tamarkin back on the podium...

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