ASO Performs Scheherazade as past meets future of classical music
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — On Saturday, the Albany Symphony Orchestra continues its 2021-2022 season with a performance at Proctors in Schenectady.
The major piece on the program is Nikolia Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade.” The Russian composer’s version of the tale of “One Thousand and One Nights,” was created in 1888 and is still a beloved piece of music.
However, as a bonus to enjoying music that has endured over the years, this concert offers a special treat. It will feature two women who are likely to influence classical music throughout the rest of the century.
The ASO will be led by guest conductor Erina Yashima, who is currently the assistant director of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Also on the program is the violin prodigy Maya Anjali Buchanan.
Both have impressive resumes and talent that has taken them to the peak of the world of classical music at an early age.
Yashima, whose parents are Japanese, was born and raised in Germany. She studied in Europe and has been working in the United States for the past several years.
Starting in 2015, she served as a conductor apprentice with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In 2019, she won the position of Assistant Director at the Philadelphia Orchestra over 600 applicants.
She also guest conducts throughout the country. She’s conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra and worked with orchestras in San Francisco, Aspen, CO and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Indeed, Yashima remembers first meeting Buchanan in Chicago in 2017, when Buchanan was a teenager. At the time the violinist was studying at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy and competing in and winning several prestigious competitions.
Buchanan, who is Indian-American, was raised in Rapid City, South Dakota and started taking violin lessons at four years of age. Within 10 years, she was studying in Chicago.
She is currently studying at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Only 21 years of age, she has already performed on three continents.
In a recent telephone interview, Yashima recalls the younger woman’s talent. “She was impressive then and her talent has grown through experience and training. I’m excited that she is on this program performing Alexander Glazunov’s beautiful ‘Violin Concerto.’”
An apparent lack of ego makes Yashima an ideal guest conductor. She has strong personal feelings on the works she conducts. However, she said she does not come to a strange city to alter the personality of the orchestra she is conducting or as she says, “I’m not here to put my handwriting all over a piece”.
She explains her approach, saying “Every orchestra is different. My job is to listen to what an orchestra has to offer and use it to bring out the best in the piece.”
Indeed, she insists that one of the pleasures she derives from being a guest conductor is discovering the unique skills and talents of the musicians she is conducting.
She has high praise for both the ASO and music director David Alan Miller. “He (Miller) has done a great job developing a superior orchestra and a loyal audience.”
She says it is an honor to be invited to conduct the ASO. (She was originally scheduled for January 2021, but COVID changed things.)
However, Yashima is hopeful about 2022. She is scheduled to conduct at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Berlin, Seoul, Montreal and Scotland.
Considering the worldwide accomplishments, it is an honor to have her include the ASO in her busy itinerary.
Chances are it will be difficult to schedule her in future years.
As for the program, she speaks of “Scheherazade” with affection. “It’s an absolute masterwork of Russian Romanticism,” is how she describes the work.
Continuing she says, “The audience immediately feels at home with the beauty of the music. There are many colorful moments
of great joy and excitement and moments that are contemplative. It is continually changing moods and is always enthralling.”
Yashima adds, “It’s also a great piece for the musicians. There are a number of solos, as well as challenges for the strings as well as the entire orchestra.
It’s a great piece.”
Also on the program is Vivian Fung’s “A Child Dreams of Toys.”
The performance is at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 8, at Proctors Schenectady and is available by livestreaming.
For tickets and access call (518) 694-3300 or go to albanysymphony.com. Proof of vaccination is necessary to be admitted and masks must be worn inside the theater.