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Mostly Mozart presented
two works in its third week. Before the intermission, Violin
Concerto in D major, by Beethoven,
was performed with soloist Thomas
Zehetmair, in which he decided to perform the
cadenzas Beethoven wrote for his 1807 arrangement for
piano and orchestra. While interesting, it added nothing
to this fine work. The soloist, while technically
excellent, revealed little charisma. He offered the
audience a solo encore. The second work was Symphony
No. 40 in G minor, K.550, byMozart,
led by a hyperactive conductor, Andrew
Manze. His continual movements left to right,
pointing his baton at various sections of the orchestra,
while bending up and down on the podium, was an
unnecessary distraction. He appeared to be doing his
gymnastic exercises. That said, the orchestra played, as
always, brilliantly. Both Beethoven and Mozart were well
served.
The pianist Kirill
Gerstein dominated the first half of my fourth visit
to the Mostly Mozart Festival. He played Variations
on a Theme by R. Schumann for piano solo, by Brahms,
and then performed magnificently in Piano Concerto in
A. minor, bySchumann.
The third movement was particularly thrilling, as his
fingers seemed to float quickly over the keys. He then
granted the audience an encore, accompanied by a cello,
of the second movement of a piano concerto composed by Clara
Schumann at the age of fourteen. It was an
extraordinary presentation. The concert concluded with a
rousing rendition Symphony No. 1 in C minor, by
Brahms. Louis Langree conducted
the orchestra brilliantly. It has never played better.
Schumann and Brahms were well served in this
unforgettable concert.
My final visit to David Geffen Hall to
the Mostly
Mozart Festival was
to hear a program of three works by three composers all
conducted by Louis
Langree.
It began with Symphony
No. 1 in D major ("Classical"),
by Prokofiev,
followed by Symphony
No. 25 in G minor,
by Mozart.
Following the intermission, Violin
Concerto in D major,
by Tchaikovsky, with Gil
Shaham as
soloist, was performed. When the first movement was
concluded, a thunderous applause greeted the orchestra
and soloist.
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A bizarre
situation followed.
Apparently, many in the
audience thought the
concerto was finished and
began to leave up the
aisles. Eventually, the
concerto was able to
continue. Many in the
audience have no idea about
classical music. One must
listen until the conclusion
of a work, without
interrupting with applause.
That said, the program was a
fitting conclusion to
another wonderful Mostly
Mozart Festival, with
outstanding soloists in the
five piano and violin
concertos.
Come Light
My Cigarette,
written and directed by Arnold
L. Cohen, at the Theatre
at St. Clement's, has a
three member cast, Michael
J. Farina, Kaye Tuckerman and Erikka
Walsh (photo
below) accompanied at the
piano by Mason
Griffin.The two
actresses carry guns in
their purse, which,
unfortunately, they do not
use, and the male actor
answers five phone calls in
succession, where he utters
offensive remarks about
Jews, Catholics, rabbis and
priests after the death of
his wife. He is an obnoxious
character. In ninety minutes
without an intermission,
they sing 18 songs, none of
which leave any impression.
However, the opening night
party was wonderful at
Etcetera Etcetera, 352 West
44th St., and the three cast
members were charming in
person.
Van Gogh's
Ear,
by Eve
Wolf, is a chamber
opera about the mentally
disturbed artist, who cut
off one ear to give to a
prostitute when he was
living in a small room in
Arles in 1888. Carter
Hudson is fine as the
famous painter, who was then
placed in a mental asylum,
where he committed suicide.
The play consists of his
letters to his brother,
while two singers sing
various songs, accompanied
by two pianist,s and a four
member string quartet. What
is lovely is the projections
by David
Bengali of the paintings
of the artist. It is an
unusual theatre piece. We
congratulated the cast at
the opening night party at
West bank Cafe.
Andy Karl (photo
below) received a portrait
to be hung on the wall at
Tony's di Napoli, 147 West
43rd Street. The cast of Groundhog
Day and his wife Orfeh attended
the unveiling as Emcee/host Valerie
Smaldone spoke and the
restaurant manager Bruce
Dimpflmaier provided a
delicious buffet dinner and
an open bar. It was a
splendid party.
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