DPO’s Carmina Burana  ‘a musical feast’

By Burt Saidel

The end of Dayton’s hyper-busy arts season requires some “catch up” to include all of the important performances.  The Dayton Philharmonic ended its season with two spectacular concerts.  While they are a few weeks old, the memory lingers on.

The final Classical Concert, May 18-19, featured two very different works.  Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana burst onto the classic music scene after its debut in 1937.  It is a collection of 26 “scenes” based on monastery songs discovered in a medieval collection.  The work is instantly appealing and has had a rousing success in concert halls and popular media since its introduction.

In contrast, Paul Hindemith’s Der Schwanendreher: (Concerto on Old Folk Songs) is rarely performed. It is a concerto for viola and orchestra that is contemporaneous with Orff’s Carmina Burana.  Recognized as one of the most difficult viola concertos, the three movements explore unknown folk melodies with interesting tonal and dynamic expressions.

The Hindemith was the first ever performance of the work by the Philharmonic.  It was also the first time in my memory of 60 years of concerts that the concertmaster was a cellist.

The orchestra consisted of four celli, two double basses, a trumpet, trombone, woodwinds, tympani and a harp.  With no violins, principal cellist Deborah Taylor got to stride on stage barely hiding her smile and receive the applause due a concertmaster.

The soloist for the concerto was DPO principal violist Sheridan Kamberger Currie. The past few years have marked many milestones for the lovely Sheridan.  She became a bride and a mother.  She has played many solos with the orchestra but this was her debut as soloist in a Classical Concert.

As a fan of the viola and of Sheridan, I was eagerly anticipating our first hearing of Der Schwanendreher.  The small orchestra and Sheridan performed the work with élan and sensitivity.  The long viola cadenza was an exciting tour de force.

After intermission, the stage was filled with full orchestra, chorus and a trio of soloists. Several choruses were combined with the Philharmonic singers under the direction of Hank Dahlman. The mass of artists, numbering 250, presaged the musical excitement we were about to hear.

From the first notes, the audience, replete with an excellent libretto and enough light to read, was drawn into the exhilaration. The extra musical presence was the concert hall. The usurpassed acoustics of the Schuster have recreated music for the Philharmonic audience since its opening.

Hearing “Carmina” in the Schuster with the DPO and Maestro Neal Gittleman was a musical feast. There were nuances in every aspect of the music. The forte passages, full orchestra and chorus, were richer than remembered.  In the subtle and lyric moments, a spell was cast by the delicacy and yet strength of the sound.

The soloists, soprano Mary Wilson, baritone Andrew Garland and tenor Steven Stolen were having fun making great music.  Stolen nearly “stole the show” with his comic rendition of a swan being roasted.  Both Wilson and Garland, superb vocalists, are returning to Dayton Opera next season in leading roles.  

Rhythm In Shoes

A few days earlier, the final Pops Concert of the season featured the dancing sensations, Rhythm in Shoes. This Dayton-based traditional dance ensemble is setting world-records for dancing, comedy and their own live music led by music director Rick Good.

The Pops setting is perfect to show off the dancing as well as the orchestra. Maestro Neal Gittleman combined with RIS artistic director Sharon Leahy to weave a fabric of pure enjoyment and excitement.

Rhythm in Shoes has gone well beyond tap dancing and clogging. Never forgetting their roots, they join these techniques to the most innovative choreography, well-laced with sprightly comedy.  A highly versatile troupe, the dancers play music and sing.  Some of the musicians actually take a turn with the dance.  

The evening began with the dancers warming up the audience with a series of Scott Joplin numbers. One of the most memorable moments in my entire dance experience was the playing of the Waldteufel “Skater’s Waltz.” The beautiful Emma Leahy-Good, a vision in blue with huge blue flags, created an ambiance of movement and color that transcended the magnificence of the music.

Another number can be described, but scarcely believed. The troupe, hooded and clothed in black, came on stage bearing colorful plastic tubes of various sizes.  With the orchestra, they “beat out” the sounds of a polka, a true accompaniment to the music.

The evening continued with a zany wild party danced to the Milhaud Le Boeuf sur le Toît.  The title, “The Ox on the Roof” is no zanier than the wild dance party that ensued.  The characters went through every contortion imaginable. The result was a party that we all wished we could have the strength to attend.

The concert ended in a most serendipitous manner. Traditionalmusicians/composers Jay Ungar and Molly Mason joined the orchestra in a most beautiful valediction. They played Ungar’s Ashokan Farewell, now popularized by TV.  Their music linked the great traditions of classical and folk in a most lovely manner.

Art Ball 2007 June 9 at DAI

Dayton’s premiere black-tie social event celebrates its golden anniversary on Saturday, June 9.  The theme of this year’s gala is The Art of Celebration, inspired by The Dayton Art Institute’s 1906 work by French artist Gaston La Touche, entitled Dinner at the Casino. This splendid oil painting exudes a graceful whimsy and a classical elegance that reflects the polished tradition that is The Dayton Art Institute’s Art Ball.

Art Ball 2007 has been made possible by the generosity of Presenting Sponsor National City with additional support from Pickrel, Schaeffer & Ebeling; Lovett and Lovett Executive Search; Kettering Medical Center Network; Bonbright Distributors, Inc.; Fites Family Foundation; Lorenz Williams Incorporated; Carvers Steaks & Chops; James Free Jewelers; Prime Time Party Rental; and Siebenthaler’s Garden Centers.

This year’s event was organized by The Dayton Art Institute’s Associate Board under the leadership of Art Ball chairs Tom and Libby Lovett.

From left to right: Art Ball 2007 chairs Tom and Libby Lovett with co-chairs Mark and Mary Pent.

Art Ball 2007 will be catered by Elegant Fare Distinctive Corporate and Social Catering. While dining in the museum’s galleries, patrons may cast their votes to select one of three pieces of art presented by the museum’s curatorial staff.  The winning work will be purchased for the museum’s collection with funds raised from Art Ball 2007.

Following dinner, guests will enjoy dancing to The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in the Grand Ballroom. The National City Casino will feature blackjack and poker while liqueurs and cigars will be served on the Moonlight Terrace with music provided by The Khalid Moss Trio. In the Twilight Garden, Velvet Crush will perform.

At 11 p.m., the winner will be drawn for the much-anticipated jewelry raffle — a stunning multi-colored South Sea pearl necklace by Mikimoto, courtesy of James Free Jewelers.

Tickets for Art Ball 2007 must be reserved in advance and begin at $225 per person. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please call The Dayton Art Institute at (937) 223-5277, ext. 220.

Local student’s photos on display at Starbucks

Hannah Moser, 14, an 8th grader at Oakwood Jr. High School, will have a photo compilation of her work on display at Starbucks Oakwood from June 5 through the beginning of July.

Rosewood Art Center classes announced

Rosewood Arts Centre is offering a variety of art and performance classes and day camps for children during the summer season. Upcoming classes include Beginning Dance for the Very Young-a combination of ballet, jazz and tumbling; Youth Jazz/Tap/Ballet Combo-for ages 6-9 including stretches, barre work and jazz dance to popular music; Exploring Pottery Skills-ages 12-16 will explore the wheel method of making pottery, fee includes clay, glazes and firing; and Summer Clay Workshop-ages 7-9 will design a tile plaque, sculpture and an animal using handbuilding methods.

Be sure to check out these upcoming camps: Dance Camp-ballet, jazz and modern dance for kids 5-6; Nature and Clay-ages 5-6 make sculptures using natural materials and clay; Mysteries of the Ocean-ages 6-8 explore the creatures of the sea through drawing painting and clay projects; Sculpture Sampler-ages 9-11 will make numerous clay projects using sculpture   and handbuilding techniques; Artist Trading Cards-ages 9-11 experiment with many different mediums to make miniature works of art to collect and trade; and Drawing and Cartooning-ages 12-14 will enjoy learning to draw and making their own comic book.

Rosewood Arts Centre is located at 2655 Olson Drive in Kettering. Hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.   Summer season youth classes and camps begin in June and fall season youth classes begin in September.

For more information, call (937) 296-0294 or go to www.ketteringoh.org. Rosewood Arts Centre programs are supported in part through a grant from the Ohio Arts Council and programmed through the Kettering Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department and the Kettering Arts Council.

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June 5, 2007
Volume 16, No. 23

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A listing of visual arts, music, theatre, and other events in Dayton and beyond.