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Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2010 > December > 03 > Entry
UT Symphony Orchestra review
The University of Texas Symphony Orchestra put two influential teachers on stage Wednesday night, as it welcomed Carl St. Clair as guest conductor and Brian Lewis on violin.
St. Clair, originally from Hochheim, Texas, is a gracious and energetic UT graduate who later became a direct disciple of Leonard Bernstein. He has led the Pacific Symphony, in California, for the past two decades, and recently left a Berlin opera company known for experimental productions, after artistic differences.
The hometown crowd was receptive. St. Clair took the stage with Lewis, UT Professor of Violin, who greeted Concertmaster Soo-Jin Nam with a friendly elbow bump before tackling Max Bruch’s demanding “Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor.”
Bruch, the program reminded us, was an “acerbic” composer whose principal contribution was this stunning piece, his first attempt at a violin concerto.
With a large vibrato, Lewis’ tone sang beautifully through the work, projecting nicely above the orchestra. The left-handed contortions that Bruch called for were entirely under Lewis’ control, with high trills and, on occasion, violent, crunchy chords.
Lewis’ onstage movements are slightly squared, as if he’s playing in an invisible box, but it gave a sense of efficiency, not constraint. Indeed, the renowned educator sang through the work’s complexities.
The Sergei Prokofiev “Symphony No. 5, Op. 100” is a captivating work with a wintry feel. Cold and snow too often come to mind around Russian composers, perhaps, but as haunting and isolated tunes crash against big marching themes, the impression of Moscow’s snow and storms remains.
The brass sounded clear, and the tutti entrance in the first movement was strong and nicely unified. The tempo in the Allegro Marcato was quick enough to keep the frenetic tune engaged.
St. Clair was active on stage, his silvery hair bouncing along with him. Under his direction the orchestra had outstanding energy and a warm sound. The frantic finale especially had a thunderous ending that felt potent.
Afterward, St. Clair was presented with a distinguished alumnus plaque and spoke gratefully of his time at the university. “The last thing I did here was 36 years ago,” he said. Let us hope next visit comes much sooner.
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