Pianist Yakov Kasman debuts at Philharmonic

By Burt Saidel

A concert of the Dayton Philharmonic is always an adventure.  Maestro Neal Gittleman’s innovative programming, his cadre of fine musicians and the unbelievable acoustic beauty of the Schuster Center take concerts into those zones which are indescribable and often unexpected.  

The program of the November Classical Concert - Respighi, Shostakovich and Schumann - was not avant garde.  How these works were played, the chemistry of the music, the soloist, the hall and the audience, moved the experience into a true adventure.

The concert opened and closed with orchestral pieces.  Ottorino Respighi is celebrated for his Roman symphonic poems.  Maestro Neal chose the Fountains of Rome to begin the concert.

The sounds of harp, celesta, piano, organ and percussion highlighted the orchestra. The combination wove an exquisite fabric, calling to mind a beautiful woman clad in the perfect combination of colors and textures.  Every section of the orchestra became alternately warp and woof of the creation.  Every section played with joy and élan.

The concert closed with Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 2.  Maestro Neal described it as “the perfect symphony.”  I would take umbrage with that and include several of Schumann’s other symphonies on that list.

Schumann’s 2nd is a complete orchestral tour de force.  It becomes a buffet of marvelous music, ever changing in dynamic and tone. The brasses introduce the entire work. A cracked note has become an overriding fear for musicians, conductor and audience.  Unfortunately, the fear became manifest.  

I have a friend who tells of going to a hotel and asking to see “your second room first.”   Perhaps our hornists should play their second note first.  After a rocky beginning, they always settle down to the fine artistry of which they are capable.
The strings and the woodwinds were especially distinguished. There were engaging solos by Eileen Whalen and John Kurokawa on oboe and clarinet.

Between the orchestral works was a presentation of Dimitri Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Experiencing a live performance makes one understand why the concerto is not often played.  It is technically demanding and musically challenging.
The soloist must lead the orchestra in humor, power and sheer beauty of musical line. Russian-born pianist Yakov Kasman must have the music of Shostakovich in his very nerve cells.  He made a debut with the Philharmonic which was truly unforgettable.

Each of the three movements is quite unique. The opening movement is the soul of humor played with incisive wit and dazzling speed. In contrast, the andante middle movement has such consummate beauty that it left the audience breathless and close to tears.  

The final movement is lilting excitement. The pianist, again with lightning speed, played the powerful passages with a special softness, a truly dazzling artistic touch.  

The standing, cheering audience demanded an encore. Kasman and the orchestra gave a “true encore.” The exquisite slow movement of the concerto was repeated with the same mellifluous effect.

Maestro Neal has given us a great artist to compliment our fine orchestra. I am looking forward to Kasman’s performance on Sunday with the Principal Quartet and to his frequent returns to the Schuster stage.

Dayton Theatre Guild’s Pride’s Crossing

In 60 years as a loyal Dayton Theatre Guild member, there have been hundreds of wonderful plays. In fact, some of my great moments in theater have been in that intimate circle.

I guess that they owed me a real clinker, and, I got one. The present offering, Tina Howe’s Pride’s Crossing, is a shambles of poor writing creating characters for whom I had little or no sympathy or attachment.

Even theater icon Gil Martin as director and a cast of very good actors could not save this play. The central idea, a dramatized reminiscence of a proper Bostonian who swam the English Channel, is appealing.

The actors played many parts, jumping from generation to generation and from situation to situation. To their credit, they played the parts using acting skills to identify their ages and characters, rather than elaborate costumes or props.

What went wrong were the abusive histrionics exemplifying the personae of nearly every character.  As an example, Cassandra Engber, an excellent actress, had to shout abusively to counter the equal abuse from the protagonist as played by Robin Smith.  

Meaningless scenes and some meaningless characters clouded any dramatic thrust. I wonder how this play passed the selection committee.

Victoria Theatre’s Rat Pack

Next on the theatrical palette was the Victoria’s presentation of The Rat Pack is Back. The show is a clever homage to those icons of a great age, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Joey Bishop.

Packed full of the great songs of that era and non-stop old jokes, it was a clever, fun-filled performance.  The show was written by Sandy Hackett, son of comedian Buddy Hackett.  That fact added to the pleasurable nostalgia of the evening.

Rosewood Gallery Call for Entries – Works on Paper 

Rosewood Gallery in Kettering, Ohio, announces a Call for Entries for the 17th Annual Dayton Area Works on Paper, a juried exhibition created as a showcase for artists living within a 45-mile radius of Dayton, Ohio.  Entries must be original works in any media (2-D or 3-D) on or of paper, completed within the last four years, not exceeding 40 inches in width.  Jurying will be done from actual work.  Entries will be received at Rosewood Gallery on Thursday, Feb. 1 from 12 pm.-7 pm. and Saturday, Feb. 3, from noon to 3 p.m. A non-refundable entry fee of $20 for up to three works must accompany each completed entry form. The exhibit runs from Feb. 26 through March 30, 2007, with an opening reception on Sunday, Feb. 25, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The juror for this year’s exhibition is Judy Anderson.  Anderson, an artist, teacher and lecturer, has a background in both the commercial and fine arts. A former commercial illustrator/art director, she turned to fine art full time in 1990.  Ink drawings, watercolor, collage, gouache on paper and acrylics on canvas are all working mediums to this artist in both two and three dimensional venues, with emphasis placed on creativity, composition and value. Anderson is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, Ohio Watercolor Society and numerous other organi zations.      

For an entry form please stop into Rosewood or write, call, or e-mail: Amy K. Anderson, Coordinator, Rosewood Gallery, 2655 Olson Drive, Kettering, OH, 45420, (937) 296-0294, amy.anderson@ketteringoh.org. The Gallery is located in Rosewood Arts Centre, 2655 Olson Drive, Kettering, Ohio.  For more information call (937) 296-0294, or visit the web site: www.ketteringoh.org.

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November 21, 2006
Volume 15, No. 47

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