The Monterey County Herald, Tuesday, May 25, 2004

Monterey Symphony Review

Conductor Tamarkin's adieu to joy
By BARBARA ROSE SHULER
Herald Correspondent

     On Sunday afternoon, the air of Carmel's Sunset Theater was charged with the uplifting message, "Joy, beautiful divine spark, your bright power unites what has been divided. We enter your sanctuary."
     As Kate Tamarkin conducted the last section of the program that marks the end of her tenure as music director of the Monterey Symphony, Frederich Schiller's famous ode, set to voices raised in song, affirmed the presence of joyous being in our lives.
     Fear not, the music says, The light of peace and gladness is here now.
     This is the message, by her own statement, that Tamarkin wants to leave with us. And, Beethovens's "Choral" Symphony No.9 in D minor remains second to none in delivering it.
     The "Ode to Joy" settled over the audience like a powerful balm rendered with jubilant authority by the orchestra, the hundred-member chorus and four vocal soloists.
     Concert VI "A farewell to Kate Tamarkin – to be performed again tonight at Sherwood Hall in Salinas – begins with a Baroque pairing of George Frederic Handel's "TheRoyal Fireworks Music" and Tomaso Albinoni's Adagio.
     In one respect, it is surprising that Tamarkin's last cycle at the Monteray Symphony podium reads like a runaway-hits list of the classical canon. Since taking over as artistic leader in 2001, she has introduced symphony audiences to many new and lesser-known works of the repertoire.
     ConcertVI proffers all-favorites with no signature Tamarkin discovery works.
     The celebratory mood of the Beethoven symphony is prefigured in Royal Fireworks, a suite of dances Handel composed to accompany a pyrotechnic display that paid tribute to the peace that ended the war of Austrian Succession.
     The popular Albinoni Adagio, played for the first time by the symphony, provides somber, reflective counterpoint to the joyous opening and closing works.
     Tamarkin's vivid accounts of the first pieces take symphony patrons on a refreshing excursion into music of the Baroque period, rarely emphasized by this orchestra.
     The six movements of the "Fireworks" suite leads off with the big ceremonial overture, followed by merry dances and stately airs characteristic of the era, all showing off the brass and winds that played in good form.
     The Albinoni Adagio elaboration by Remo Giazotto of a fragment he discovered of a trio sonata by the composer. It is ironic that such an iconically popular work has little to do with the music of the man to whom it is attributed.
     William Barbini's haunting violin playing and Jonathan Salzedo's evocative organ passages lent solo poignancy to the orchestra's fine version of the Adagio.
     The Beethoven Symphony, a monumental undertaking for any conductor and orchestra, warmed up slowly in the first movement. The musicians found their stride in the second "scherzo" movement and ascended to a powerful finish in the choral section.
     Baritone Clayton Brainerd, fresh from performances at New York's Metropolitan Opera, boomed like a sonorous god of brotherhood and joy, filling the auditorium with frissons.
     The other soloists — soprano Jennifer Cole, mezzo-soprano Rebekah Ambrosini and tenor Raul Melo — were simply overshadowed by this tremendous solo vocal force.
     The symphony chorus, prepared by Leroy Kromm, likewise delivered a commanding sound that washed gloriously over the audience.
     The local singers were joined by members of Kromm's San Jose Symphonic Choir for a more robust effect.
     Beethoven's Ninth Symphony not only served as a grand farewell for Tamarkin and an inspiring boon for symphony patrons, it also showed off the renovated hall as capable of easily accommodating a huge ensemble.
     We could see every singer, soloist and instrumentalist and they sounded terrific, as they no doubt will in Sherwood Hall tonight. For tickets call 624-8511.

[Back]