MUSIC REVIEW: Oberlin Symphony Orchestra at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall

Oberlin

Sat 1/30

Oberlin Orchestra: A Breakthrough Concert in Chicago

In celebration of Oberlin College & Conservatory’s 150th anniversary, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music gave three rather huge gifts to the city of Chicago. The Contemporary Music Ensemble performed two concerts at Roosevelt University’s Ganz Hall, and the Oberlin Symphony Orchestra thrilled us at Chicago’s Symphony Center, Orchestra Hall.

On the way to Orchestra Hall this Saturday evening, we experienced unusually light traffic (by Chicago standards) and arrived early enough to see the pre-concert talk. What a treat! Author and Harvard musicologist Thomas Forrest Kelly delivered a high energy audio/visual presentation on tonight’s featured piece: Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Kelly’s passion for the piece translated into genuine fun for the large pre-concert crowd. He considers The Rite of Spring to be “the most important single moment in the history of 20th century music”. Wow.

Our lower balcony second row seats gave us an incredible view of the stage. Orchestra Hall, the place the Chicago Symphony Orchestra calls home, is indeed a world-class concert venue. The room was buzzing with excitement.

The Oberlin Orchestra opened with the Roman Carnival Overture, by Hector Berlioz. Conductor Raphael Jiménez (Director, Division of Conducting and Ensembles/Associate Professor of Conducting/Director of Oberlin Orchestras) took us on a journey through many key changes and sometimes surprising dynamics. My ears told me I was hearing an excellent professional orchestra, even though my eyes noticed they were college students! The audience replied with a full and warm ovation.

Next up, Oberlin alumna Marcy Stonikas, soprano, joined the orchestra for Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs. These songs reveal Strauss’s feelings for the end of his own life, and perhaps his sense of calm acceptance. Ms. Stonikas delivered a beautiful and sensitive vocal performance; her gorgeous vocal quality was never harsh. The room acoustics added a buttery warmth to this excellent rendering. Another enthusiastic audience response, and we were off to intermission.

The mood in the air is one of eager anticipation. Without a doubt, Chicago experienced a truly awesome finale: Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Raphael Jiménez and the Oberlin Orchestra delivered a confident and thrilling statement of Stravinsky’s famous orchestral romp/emotional journey. This was quite an excellent showcase of the orchestra’s depth and ensemble cohesion. This is one of my favorite pieces, and Raphael Jiménez’s interpretation was brilliant. A huge and quite long Chicago ovation sent these wonderful musicians back to Ohio with a sense of great pride and accomplishment.

Cool Cleveland’s Chicago correspondent, Gary Yek, is an accomplished recording engineer and owner of Electric Garyland Studios.

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