THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 12, 1995 TAG: 9502120086
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Music review
SOURCE: BY MARK MOBLEY, MUSIC CRITIC
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
It took George Manahan seven years to travel 100 miles. But his arrival was worth the wait.
The Richmond Symphony's music director made his Hampton Roads debut with the Virginia Symphony Friday, in the pit for Richmond Ballet's ``Romeo and Juliet.'' His conducting was a model of economy, expression and dramatic control.
Manahan's eight-year tenure in Richmond has been distinguished by inspired, award-winning programming.
But he is best known as a frequent visitor to Santa Fe Opera, New York City Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago.
His work in ``Romeo and Juliet'' showed one of his special strengths, guiding an orchestra through tough waters.
Prokofiev's score is a masterpiece that translates Shakespeare's passionate poetry into bright, colorful, varied music. It is also an extremely tough score to play, with exposed passages for nearly every instrument and high, florid string lines.
Manahan led with crisp gestures and generous cues. If an entrance was shaky, he looked up and set the player right. He and the orchestra captured the nervous energy and motoric rhythms. He kept the low brass in check, and their snarly chords were all the more powerful for being full and well-balanced.
The result was a moving account of the tale.
There were some shaky moments, such as the oddly paced ending of the ballroom scene and a few wrong notes. But these were insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
Solos from flute to tuba sang of the exuberance of love-struck, doomed youth. by CNB