Life > March 6, 2008

By Elizabeth Martin | Staff writer

College students are keen concert goers, eager to camp out for tickets to get good seats when their favorite artist comes to town or impress a date by heading to the symphony. What if you could attend a concert where the person in the spotlight holding the audience riveted was the guy that sits behind you in chemistry?

Such a classical concert would undoubtedly be one met without yawns.

The University Orchestra concert, held Feb. 28 in Brendle Recital Hall, featured the winners of last November’s Concerto Competition.

The opportunity to be accompanied by an orchestra and be able to soar on top of the rich texture it provides is every soloist’s dream.

The usual accompaniment for routine recitals and auditions is a piano, which adequately performs the role of backing up the soloist but is often merely a reduction of the original score for the orchestra.

The competition was fierce, with each student frequenting the practice rooms more than usual as competition day drew near.

Five soloists were chosen to perform with the orchestra in the February concert.

Since November, the chosen ones maintained a practice regime even throughout winter break.

The concert opened with Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide.

One exquisite part of this circus-like work consists of one theme that suddenly starts to overlap with itself as some of the orchestra starting the theme a measure behind.

The first soloist was senior Julie Savage, playing Robert Ward’s Concerto for Tenor Sax and Orchestra. Entrancing the audience with soaring ethereal lines, Savage’s opening performance was nothing less than stunning.

Next up was senior Jim Zoll, who charmed the audience with Weber’s Concerto No. 1 for Clarinet and orchestra.

A sprightly work, the concerto is full of surprise forte moments designed to ensure that the audience continues to pay attention.

Quick passages called for a delicate balance of breathing and fingering technique, both of which Zoll easily mastered in his performance.

Senior voice major Johanna Young then entranced the audience with her performance of “Ain’t It a Pretty Night” from Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah.

This scene finds protagonist Susannah emotionally devastated after being accused by the church of a crime she never committed.

The tragic women is then seduced by the preacher and continues to face pressure from the church elders, who want to cast her out of the community.

Young describes Susannah at this moment as simply “tired and worn out from (her) loss of innocence,” now grasping for comfort in the beauty of the night and “dreaming of possibilities” for her future.

She poignantly portrayed the desperate Susannah from the piece’s serene opening through its stunning climax, piercing the hearts of the audience as they sympathize with this young lady’s plight and distress.

Closing the first half was junior Virginia Browne followed the opening’s Candide theme by performing Bernstein’s boisterous “Glitter and Be Gay.”

A woman desperate to stay optimistic despite the dire circumstances surrounding her, this character calls for dramatic presentation and vocal mastery, both of which were nailed by Browne.

Careful and attentive listeners would have recognized the reappearance of themes introduced in the overture that opened the concert.

The final, impressive concerto left the audience stunned.

Sophomore Daniel Ruehr performed the third movement of Bruch’s Concerto No. 1 for Violin and orchestra.

The magnificent work demands the utmost concentration and skill from any soloist.

From poignant chords and wild double stops to the passionate lyrical lines, Ruehr easily held the audience captive.

The sophomore transferred to the university last fall from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, a prestigious music school in Ohio after deciding to pursue his interest in business.

Ruehr is eager to continue his violin studies now purely for enjoyment.

The university’s department of music is certainly enjoying reaping the benefits of his work.

The concert closed with a lush work that includes clever musical depictions of waves: Wagner’s Siegfried’s Rhine Journey.

Conductor David Hagy appreciated the work that was done in a short amount of rehearsal time.

He feels the works were played “very well” and is pleased with the fact that the orchestra was able to play “compellingly.”

He enjoys organizing the concerto competition, always eager for the chance to showcase some of the university’s best musicians.