REVIEW
What: Inspirations from the Natural World, Victoria Symphony New Currents Festival of Music (festival continues through Feb. 5) When: Last Night
Where: MacPherson Playhouse
Info: victoriasymphony.ca or Tel. 385-6515
Stars: 3 1/2 (out of five)
- - -
Despite regular full houses at their pops and classics concerts, and a patron list pages long, the opening night of the Victoria Symphony's New Currents Festival of Music was not well attended. At some points, it appeared there were more people on stage than in the audience.
What a shame.
The night was packed with some of season's most exciting music and performances, save for a few dragging moments.
VS percussionist Masako Hockey stole the show with her virtuosic, and physically demanding, marimba playing in Vancouver composer Jeffrey Ryan's concerto, Two-by-Four.
Flautist Mark McGregor, another featured soloist of the evening, was equally engaging in Trace the Gold Sun, the fifth work written for the orchestra by composer-in-residence Anna H脙露stman.
McGregor is a specialist in extended techniques and contemporary music who often plays with Victoria's Aventa Ensemble. His playing of Brian Ferneyhough's Carceri d'Invenzione IIb with the group last year was mind-blowing. As was his performance in H脙露stman's piece last night, in which he played flute and alto flute.
The work moves through three distinct and atmospheric movements, the final focusing on an unexpected jazzy line between piano, bass, percussion and flute.
The most exciting work of the night came at its start, with the energetic and suspenseful Zoom and Zip by Elena Kats-Chernin - from Uzbekistan and Australia.
This beautiful and twisted strings piece evolves with a counterpoint. The recurring minor themes juxtaposed with lush romantic lines gives a pleasurable and eerie feeling -- reminiscent of an old horror movie. At some points, the bended squeal of the violins against the cellos sounded like a theramin or musical saw.
- - -
FESTIVAL PICK
What: Standing Wave
When: 2:30 p.m., Sunday
Where: MacPherson Playhouse
Tickets: $7-$19, at the box office
Why: If Standing Wave is not the foremost contemporary ensemble in Western sa国际传媒, then it definitely includes its foremost musicians. Clarinetist A.K. Coope, violinist Rebecca Whitling, cellist Peggy Lee, pianist Allen Stiles and percussionist Vern Griffiths are heavy-hitters in Vancouver's new music scene and not to be missed. They perform works by Bradshaw Pack, Chris Paul Harman and Thomas Ad猫s, as well as Ron Samworth's Reservoir Dogs as part of the New Currents Festival of Music.
- Sarah Petrescu
