Concert Review: Smiles bloom at IRIS performance
1/28/08
Smiles bloom at IRIS performance
By Jon W. Sparks
January 27, 2008
Watch how an audience reacts to a performance. They might cheer or hurl raspberries or applaud politely. But I've never seen a crowd smile as much as the audience did when cellist Lynn Harrell finished his glorious performance of Saint-Saens' Cello Concerto No. 1.
It happened Saturday night during the IRIS Orchestra's performance at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre, an evening where sublime performances even beyond Harrell's thrilled the crowd.
Maestro Michael Stern was brimming with optimism during this first concert of 2008, halfway through the orchestra's first season as an independent entity and basking in the announcement of next season's lineup that will feature such luminaries as Emmanuel Ax and Branford Marsalis.
That enthusiasm spilled over into the performances, particularly Harrell's delicious interpretation of the Saint-Saens. Looking somewhat like the favorite uncle who has a gentle nature and good stories, Harrell was the Zen master at work, from the way he and his instrument seemed to completely understand each other, to the pluperfect execution of this delicate, lyrical and romantic composition. At times Harrell was fully absorbed in his performance; then he would throw his head back, look around at the orchestra, grin and savor the bliss of the piece's beauty.
This passion in both performance and appreciation was infectious, and it's why both orchestra and audience applauded and smiled. Harrell rewarded the mutual appreciation with an elegant encore of "Song of the Birds" by Pablo Casals.
Starting off the evening was David Diamond's "Romeo and Juliet" Suite, composed in 1947 and beautifully performed by the orchestra. It's been a good year for R&J around town - there was a stellar staging at Germantown Community Theatre last February and a terrific performance of excerpts from Prokofiev's ballet work by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra in November.
Ending the evening at GPAC was a performance of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, a piece performed at the first IRIS concert in 2000. Stern picked up the pace, giving it an especially fine energy and the inspired orchestra - particularly the brass and woodwinds - having many moments of luminosity.
It was a great way to end a concert and start a new year.
