Pianist Vassily Primakov impresses at DAI & OHS

By Burt Saidel

Impresaria Elana Bolling of Vanguard Concerts has had a 45-year string of artistic triumphs.  She has also faced every conceivable logistic problem.  

Elana’s blessings continue.  Her unerring ear and well-developed taste for the very best in chamber music discovered young Russian piano sensation Vassily Primakov.  In addition to his recital at the Dayton Art Institute, Primakov agreed to give a special performance at Oakwood High School a day earlier.

Many of us remember the last-minute cancellation of the Julliard String Quartet last month due to the record storms in New York.  This month, Elana counted on April as a harbinger of spring.  Primakov’s appearance was expected to be hitch-free..
All plans seemed to be perfect until the storms which blanketed the Northeast cancelled his Thursday flight. He was rebooked for Friday. John Haddick was able to whisk him to Oakwood High just in time. The high school recital ended with a stampede of applause and a spontaneous standing ovation, a precursor to the response that this electric performer received from the sophisticated Vanguard audience.

In his all-German program, Primakov demonstrated an unerring piano technique which maintained clarity along with blinding speed and brilliance, the necessary tools of contest winners.  

Primakov never let the music fall victim to a technical display.  He approached the ephemeral aspects of the music of Robert Schumann in ten somewhat disjointed “Album Pages” with flowing musicality.

His interpretation of Brahms’ Variations and Fugue on a theme by Handel became an unforgettable experience for me.  This familiar masterpiece, full of appealing themes, requires virtuosity that connects not only the music but the images of the music.  

As the variations progressed, I found myself imagining the reverie of a magnificent ball.  Each dancing partner’s unique personality enhanced the next one’s charms.  While whirling in the arms of a new partner, a flash of previous intimacy intensified the moment.

The concert program closed with another unique experience.  Beethoven often wrote his sonatas in pairs.  The beloved “Moonlight” sonata has a partner, “Quasi una fantasia.”  Hearing these two masterworks played together filled with strength and subtlety was a perfect definition of the romanticism of that age.  

Primakov let each “internal rhythm” and “internal theme” emerge and quiver audibly before being dissolved into the fabric of the sonatas.  His powerful playing, never relentless or overbearing, gave life and light to the music.

Oh yes. Vassily’s Sunday flight back to New York was also cancelled.  Is this a jinx? Perhaps we should seek the services of an exorcist.

Jesus Christ Superstar

I used the words “never relentless” to compliment the brilliance of young pianist Primakov.  In describing the music of Jesus Christ Superstar, last week’s Schuster production, relentless was, perhaps, the nicest adjective I could use.

Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice’s 1971 retelling of the final days of Jesus’ life on earth has many plusses.  As in the early works of Weber, the music is much richer than his final descents into commercialism with Phantom of the Opera, etc…

The story, often called “The Greatest Story on Earth” touches everyone of any religious orientation.  I first saw the musical in a college production and was much taken with the beauty of the characterizations and their humanization.  

The spiritual age of musical theater has evolved into the electronic age.  We are now the victims of the tyranny of volume.  The tyranny of smoking has finally been mitigated by usage and law.  We need a law against excessive sound!

The cast, playing on an interesting minimalist set, had to contend with battering sounds coming from the electronic orchestra pit. The principals sang into the microphones only to have shouts and screams emerge into the audience.

Not only was the singing too loud but the overblown volume made the lyrics almost unintelligible.  Only Tiffini Dodson, as Mary Magdalene, came through as a
soprano, not a musical robot.

Ted Neeley has made a career of his portrayal of Jesus.  Although a bit long in the tooth, he does look the part.  His singing voice did not impress, particularly the anguished screams he projected in moments of crisis. It was his appearance on the cross, his Passion, which did electrify and move.

At intermission, several persons approached me to announce that they were leaving. Our row of prime seats counted four empties.  On leaving the theater, several independent comments were made such as, “You had better not give this a rave review.”

In response to my public and to my unwavering desire to hear good musical theater, I haven’t!

Painting Churches

Painting Churches opened at the Loft Theatre last Friday.  The play, by Tina Howe, is a poignant caricature of a family dealing with ageing and dementia.  Three actors, Evan Thompson, Kathleen Butler and Jessma Evans, do an amazing job of creating memorable characters out of a crazy quilt script.  It is a wonderful experience in theater and will run through May 6.

DTC’s ‘Speaking in Tongues’ April 20-May 6

On April 20, the Dayton Theatre Guild will open its’ season’s fiftth area premier of “Speaking in Tongues,” a psychological thriller by Andrew Bovell.

Directed by Oakwood resident Barbara Coriell, most recently seen in Frozen and director of last seasons’ Other Peoples’ Money, the cast includes many other Guild veterans: Alex Carmichael (Bright Ideas), Teresa Connair (An Act of the Imagination), Paul Edwards (Beard of Avon), Cassandra Engber (Pride’s Crossing), Becky Lamb (Doll’s House), David Shough (Brooklyn Boy), and John Spitler (Christmas Belles). Molley Burgo and Kevin Rankin complete the cast in their Guild debut.

Speaking in Tongues will run three weekends, April 20 – May 6 with a talk back session immediately following Sunday April 2’s performance. Friday performances are at 8 p.m., the first Saturday at 8 p.m., the second and third Saturdays at 5 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and $9 for students, and may be obtained by calling 937-278-5993 or visiting www.daytontheatreguild.org.

Audition workshop May 7 & 14

New York Film Academy Acting, Voice/Speech and Movement and Audition Technique teacher Glenn Kalison will hold Audition Workshops while he is in
Dayton to perform in The Human Race Theatre production of Tuesdays with Morrie, staged at the Victoria Theatre.  

The workshops, for adults and teens 16+, will be May 7 and 14 from 6-8 p.m. Fee for both sessions is $50, Contact Marilyn Klaben at mlk131&aol.com or 461-3823 ext. 3132 to sign up.

DCDC2 - Dayton Contemporary Dance Second Company Presents

Nouveau Dances: New Faces, New Talent, New Energy

Sunday, April 29, 2007 @ 4:00 PM

University of Dayton Boll Theatre
Kennedy Union Building, 300 College Park

$8 students/seniors $12 adults
For information and tickets call DCDC at 937.228.3232 ext. 110
Visit us online www.dcdc.org

DSPS Spring Art Show through May 6

The Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors is holding their Annual Spring Open Juried Show through May 6.  The show will feature juried work from DSPS members and other Dayton area artists, presented in the newly renovated gallery space at 48 High Street near downtown Dayton.  

Hours:  Thursdays and Fridays 1 - 4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 1 - 5 p.m.  Free parking at the Bomberger Center.  

Call 866-5805 for information.

Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame seeks nominees

Nominations are being sought for 2007 Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame inductees. Any member of the Dayton arts community is eligible to receive this annual award designed to recognize individuals who have dedicated themselves to theatre arts in Dayton. Completed nomination forms and two letters of recommendation must be received by May 5, 2007 and will be reviewed by a nine-member panel.

Online nominations can now be submitted by going to www.daytonys.org. Or receive a nomination form by contacting the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame Nomination Committee Chair, Susan Robert at michlipp@woh.rr.com.

Space open for artists at 40th Art in the Park

Riverbend is part of the Dayton Cultural Arts Complex at 1301 Siebenthaler Avenue in Deweese Park. This is our 40th anniversary show and we would like to expand our exposure of local artisans and craftspersons. Every year, on Memorial Day weekend, which this year is May 26th and 27th, Art in the Park opens the summer season of festivals.

Our tent city features local artists in metal, wood and leather, painters, sculptors, potters, photographers, stained glass artists, weavers and much more. We have music, food, free children’s activities, door prizes and also present an art show of student’s work.

This year, we are working in conjunction with the garden center and Dayton Playhouse to add more events and include the wonderful new Children’s Garden and a presentation of children’s work from the ARISE program. It promises to be a good time

We would like to reach a broader base of artists this year and have expanded space so that openings are still available.Local artisans who are interested in presenting their work for sale are invited to contact us for further information about fees and setup.

We provide on site security from setup on Friday until 7 p.m. Sunday evening. Show hours are Saturday, May 26 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon until 5. p.m. Anyone interested should contact Donna at 937-435-8297 or Riverbend at 937- 333-7000 as soon as possible.

If you need any more information, you may contact me at this email address or at 937-275-4575.

Lee Koopman
Riverbend Arts Council

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April 24, 2007
Volume 16, No. 17

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