Guest Philly Orchestra conductor brings originality to SPAC
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Next week at SPAC could be very special as the Philadelphia Orchestra’s begins its second week of a three week residency with some popular programming.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are devoted to the theme “American Classics.” Saturday the orchestra celebrates the John Williams score for the classic adventure film “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” The orchestra performs the score while the film is shown.
The first two evenings of “American Classics” will be conducted by Marin Alsop, the music director of the Baltimore Orchestra since 2007. The Friday concert will be conducted by Bramwell Tovey.
Alsop’s programming has been noted for its originality and the idea of mixing unexpected pieces with each other. The result is a fresh look at familiar pieces and, perhaps, a better understanding of a less familiar work. The success of the concept has resulted in Alsop’s contract with the Baltimore Orchestra being renewed for the second time. This time through 2021. She is also the music director of Brazil’s Sao Paulo Symphony.
Alsop’s programming for the first two concerts of the American Classic Series reflects the originality of her thinking. Wednesday would be a crowd pleaser under any circumstance but an appearance by famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma makes it a highlight of the season. That he is playing Dvorak’s monumental “Cello Concerto” is, itself, a special event.
In a recent telephone interview, Alsop explained that the piece by a Czechborn composer is fitting to be part of “American Classics” as it was written in the United States in 1894, while Dvorak was teaching in New York City from 1892-1895.
She said that she expects her long friendship and frequent collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma to resonate during the performance. “Yo-Yo is a dear friend, a phenomenal soloist, musician and human being. I can’t speak for the audience, but I have to believe our friendship, along with the rapport and admiration we both have for the Philadelphia Orchestra, will be felt by the audience. I do know it feels special when we are on stage together.”
Other pieces on the program include contemporary American composers John Adams’ fanfare for orchestra, “Short Ride on Fast Machine” and Samuel Barber’s “Symphony #1.”
Marin described the Adams piece as “high driving fun.” Adams is a minimalist composer whose work is noted for their rhythmic and harmonic dissonances. About the changing harmonies in the work, he once explained, “You know how it is when someone asks you to take a ride in a terrific sports car, and then you wish you hadn’t?”
As for “Symphony #1,” Marin calls it “Barber’s masterpiece.” It is the wild card of the program with the conductor saying, it has become “somewhat of a curiosity.”
On Thursday, the program is less complicated. “It’s a night of Gershwin. We include some of his most beloved pieces, so you know it will be a beautiful evening of romantic music,” she says rather simply. The pieces include “Rhapsody in Blue,” “American in Paris,” and excerpts from “Porgy and Bess.”
The lesser-known inclusion is Gershwin’s “Cuban Overture,” about which she says “A lot of people might never have heard it before.” The number includes a lot of brass and percussion, justifying Alsop’s comment, “It’s a very spirited piece.”
Adding a unique flavor to the evening is the Marcus Roberts Trio, a jazz trio that has a reputation for being expert interpreters of Gershwin’s music. Roberts is on piano. The other members of the trio are Rodney Jordan on bass and Jason Marsalis on drums (yes, he’s a member of that Marsalis family.)
One of the strengths of the group is that while most jazz trios feature the piano as the dominant instrument, The Marcus Roberts Trio shares the focus equally. This offers a more varied interpretation of the numbers.
This is Alsop’s first return to SPAC since 2011, but it is familiar territory for her. She spent a summer here when she was 12. The location was tailor made for the family. Her mother and father were both professional musicians and her father enjoyed restoring old Victorian homes.
The conductor says she has great memories of SPAC — especially her 1990 debut here. “My father played violin with the orchestra for that performance. It was a special experience that I will always remember.”
The Philadelphia Orchestra is at SPAC through Aug. 19. For tickets and information, call 584-9330 or go to spac.org.