MARK AUERBACH
SPRINGFIELD – Last weekend’s Springfield Symphony Orchestra concert was the one I’d been hoping to attend all season. Billed as a concert celebrating Black History Month, the Springfield Symphony performed a dazzling program curated by Maestro Kevin Rhodes with something for its classical audiences, its jazz devotees, its pops and musical theatre buffs, and Star Trek junkies. Rhodes, Orchestra, and Chorus performed excerpts from The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (a blockbuster in the opera house and on Broadway with its standards-filled score) and Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for The Common Man, one of classical music’s major Americana pieces. Star Trek and Spenser for Hire TV star Avery Brooks narrated words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Joseph Schwantner’s New Morning for The World (Daybreak of Freedom), and the Orchestra played excerpts from Duke Ellington’s The River, which was written for an Alvin Ailey ballet at American Ballet Theatre.
The opening Fanfare for the Common Man set the pace for an evening that was musically taut, well-performed by orchestra, chorus, soloists, and narrator; and Maestro Rhodes. The Vortex section of Ellington’s The River showcased a side of Ellington’s music not often-enough remembered–his journey into classical music and ballet.
Kevin Rhodes (Photo by John Robert Williams)
For me, the surprise of the evening was Joseph Schwanter’s New Morning For The World, a lushly written and scored piece that would make a superlative film score. Avery Brooks aptly delivered the narrative -quotes and thoughts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Brooks has a commanding presence, rich, deep voice, and his performance was fully integrated into the score. The composer was in the audience.
Most people came for the Porgy and Bess, and it was musically prime, with the orchestra, chorus, and soloists giving a rich rendering of the Gershwin’s classic. It was definitely a more operatic than Broadway interpretation, and some of the lyrics were washed out by the musicians. But the series of showstoppers, from “Summertime” to “It Ain’t Necessarily So” is always a treat to hear live. The soloists were great, and Othalie Graham and Robert Mack were standouts for me, because they got into the characters they were singing.
There appeared to be a lot of “newbies” at The Springfield Symphony (that’s great!) and unfortunately, a dearth of ushers to show the new patrons to their seats, hand out programs, and enforce the “no cellphones” rule. Two women near me texted throughout the entire concert. There were also a noticeable amount of empty seats front and center, which appear to be those purchased by subscribers who are “no shows”. If people can’t use their purchased tickets, why not donate them back to the Symphony, so they might be redistributed to students?
With the I-91 construction and other events in town, there was no problem navigating city streets or finding parking (we used Tower Square), although we arrived an half hour early to find the garages under the Interstate already full. The Springfield Symphony season continues with classics and one pops concert through early May. For details, visit www.springfieldsymphony,org.
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Kevin Rhodes, Music Director, performing Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess Suite, Ellington’s excerpts from The River; Schwantner’s New Morning for the World, and Copland’s Fanfare for The Common Man. Featuring Avery Brooks, narrator. Laquita Mitchell and Othalie Graham, sopranos; Robert Mack, tenor, Kenneth Overton, Baritone, and the Springfield Symphony Chorus, Nikki Stoia, director. February 27, Springfield Symphony Hall. For details: 413-733-2291 or www.springfieldsymphony.org.
Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio.
