Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 3, 1992 TAG: 9203030151
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: SETH WILLIAMSON
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The sax part was courtesy of Tech music faculty member David Jacobsen, who not only soloed in Alexandre Glazounov's alto saxophone concerto but also was host last weekend for the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference at Tech. And whether by design or by coincidence, the rest of the evening's program featured more prominent parts for saxophone than usually are heard in a typical symphony concert.
For the rest of the program, Music Director and Conductor James Glazebrook chose well-known orchestral favorites: Georges Bizet's "L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1," Sergei Prokofiev's "Lieutenant Kije" suite and Maurice Ravel's familiar "Bolero."
There were abundant solo opportunities throughout most of these pieces, and Glazebrook's young soloists mostly acquitted themselves creditably. Trumpeter Scott San Martin in particular had a chance to show off his truly lush tone at the beginning of the Prokofiev suite. But by the end of this tough program, San Martin's chops were beginning to falter and most of the rest of the brass section sounded noticeably fatigued as well. By the final bars of the "Bolero" it was obvious that the Burruss Hall stage held some tired brass players.
The NRVSO's version of the "L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1" of Bizet was passable and more than passable. There was some mushiness in the violins in the Adagietto and there were passages in the Minuet during which they did not play precisely together. But the bell-like pealing of the horns in the Carillon as the rest of the orchestra plays a happy Schubertian melody was excellent. And alto saxophonist Grayson Fore took a bow at the end for some excellent solo work.
David Jacobsen's work in the "Concerto in E-flat for Alto Saxophone and String Orchestra," Op. 109 of Alexandre Glazounov was the high point of this concert. His presence made for a nice change from the customary round of pianists and fiddlers. And if there were any remaining doubts about the saxophone's "legitimacy" as a symphonic instrument, Jacobsen pretty much laid them to rest Saturday night. His playing revealed a range of expressiveness that approached that of the human voice. His tone varied from a warm low end to a cool and brilliant high range, with precise intonation, an almost fastidious articulation, and a natural-sounding vibrato. The Glazounov concerto is not really a vehicle for dazzling virtuosity, but it is a light and unpretentious and enjoyable showpiece that Jacobsen displayed to maximum effect.
Sergei Prokofiev's "Lieutenant Kije" suite began with a flawless off-stage trumpet solo from Scott San Martin. Indeed, it abounded in fine individual performances, including that of tenor saxophonist Marvin Weeks. Part of the fun of this concert was hearing the multiple personalities of the sax, from Glazounov's simple sweetness to the irony and sardonic humor the instrument inspired in Prokofiev. The brass section was beginning to flag toward the end of this piece and there were some unfortunate moments from the horn and trumpet sections.
For Ravel's "Bolero," two faculty soloists were imported. Bassoonist John Husser and trombonist Dayl Burnett both saved the day on their very difficult parts. Burnett's lovely tone in his high range and his double-loud glissandos at the end of the piece were a delight to hear. In all it was a serviceable performance, though the fatigued brass players were sending up white flags before the piece ended. The performance earned respectable applause and even a standing ovation from a few audience members.
Seth Williamson produces features and a classical-music program on public-radio WVTF (89.1 FM), Roanoke
by CNB