Reviews
February 28, 2009
Never discourage your daughter from playing the trumpet.
The traditionally male instrumental bastion was obliterated at the Lyric Theatre on Friday night when the young English trumpeter Alison Balsom played a superb concert with the Kansas City Symphony.
Balsom, with her "girl next door" looks and unpretentious demeanor, displayed a clear, ringing tone. This was immediately apparent in the fanfare-like opening of the "Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra" by 20th-century composer Henri Tomasi.
What seemed most impressive, though, were the softer passages with mute and the breathtaking legato lines near the end of the first movement. Despite a few spotty trumpet notes, Balsom exhibited technique galore, and in the cadenza the wide leaps and difficult lines were handled with ease and finesse.
The work employs a broad palette of orchestral colors, and these were brought out by the orchestra in marvelous, cascading waves of sound in the second movement.
Balsom also played Haydn's "Trumpet Concerto in E-flat," a staple of the repertory she recorded for EMI records.
Music Director Michael Stern opened the work in a clean and lean fashion, with sensitive and balanced phrasing. Balsom played the work with a simple, elegant tone and effective use of dynamics. Again, her softer playing was stunning, and the rapid fingerings, trills and ornamental passages seemed effortless.
Stern brought Balsom back to the stage for an encore - a tango by Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla. The soloist and orchestra played a thoroughly convincing reading of the work. Unfortunately, the orchestra covered up the soloist from time to time.
Stern has a real knack with post-romantic music, and the orchestra soared in a fiery and gripping performance of Richard Strauss' tone poem "Ein Heldenleben" ("A Hero's Life.") Stern displayed an ability to lend clarity and shape to a work that can be sprawling in the hands of other conductors.
At times the work is like a violin concerto, with extensive and technically demanding solo passages. Concertmistress Kanako Ito employed skillful technique and impressive musicality.
"Hedenleben" is a brassy affair, with five trumpets, eight horns, trombones and tubas. With that in mind, there were surprisingly few moments when the strings and winds were overwhelmed by the brass.
Robert Schumann's "Manfred Overture" seemed the odd man out at this performance. Wind and brass entrances were not synchronized well, and the orchestral balance was disappointing.
Some of the most difficult passages were the best performed-the rapid violin lines were accurate and well blended.
The concert will be repeated in two performances: Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Lyric Theatre and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Yardley Hall at the Carlsen Center.
Posted on Sat, Feb. 28, 2009 12:09 AM