Hay-Ho from the DSO!

This is a copy of the review I'm submitting to my professor in Music Appreciation.

The Best of the Baroque
Anthony Estes
December 2, 2005

Thursday night was an evening of primers at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Best of the Baroque was a concert in the DSOs Classical Series, and was conducted by Jeanne Lamon of Canada. She is quite a celebrated musician being a violin virtuoso and her musical leadership as a conductor and educator in Toronto, where she serves on the faculty of the Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto.

In the beautifully renovated auditorium, the evening began with Handel’s Overture to Judas Maccabaeus. Performed excellently by a baroque era type orchestra, the sound of music reverberated throughout the performance hall. From the first note to the final measure, patrons found themselves drawn in to the performance, no doubt due to the genius of Lamon who played as well as conducted.

Next, was Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major. It would appear that this was an arrangement transcribed by Bach from Antonio Vivaldi. This was an interesting piece because of what Lamon called “musical choreography”. The orchestra was seemingly divided into three sections where at certain points in the movements, they would call and respond. One section would do “a”. The next section would do “b”. And the continuo would do “c” and this would complete the musical phrase. The second movement of the concerto just featured two chords, modulating from E minor to G major. Lamon said that there was debate among scholars as to whether this was to be played literally or with improvisation from the harpsichord and violin. Either way, Lamon did the latter by performing a virtuosic solo, the segued into the chord progression. Besides the fact that on of the violins was slightly out of tune, this was a very high-energy piece and well executed by the orchestra.

Pachelbel’s original arrangement of Canon in D was performed next. Lamon says that this is fitting for the holidays, but this reviewer disagrees with her. This piece is more associated with weddings as opposed to the Christmas season. Adding to this oversight by Lamon, she got a little carried away in her performance on violin, and slightly sped up her playing ahead of the rest of the orchestra, but it ended very well. Even the organist didn’t get away unscathed- he inadvertently “flubbed” over the keyboard. However, none of these mistakes were major, and the performance continued.

Handel’s Concerto Grosso in F major Op. 3, No. 4 was performed before the intermission. And immediately following, was Vivaldi’s Sinfonia for Strings and Continuo in G major, Locatelli’s Concerto Grosso in F minor, Op. 1, No. 8, and Charpentier’s Noels. The concert was concluded with Vivaldi’s Concerto for Strings and Continuo in G major.

This was a great concert and all who enjoy art music of the Baroque Era would greatly appreciate this concert at the DSO. It is scheduled to run on Friday, December 2, 2005 at 10:45 a.m. and 8 p.m., and again on Saturday, December 3rd at 8:30 p.m.