| Gabriel Cabezas, soloist Sphinx's 2012 Isaac Stern Award |
On
Saturday, April 6th, 2013, the Prince
George's Philharmonic treated its audience to a symphonic evening at the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts,
here in Prince George's County, Maryland.
The orchestra
was led by guest conductor, Anthony
D. Elliott, Professor of Cello, and Conductor of the Michigan Youth
Symphony Orchestra at the University of
Michigan. Mr. Elliott last performed
with the Philharmonic on March 31st, 2012 in an "extraordinary rendition"
of the Prokofiev Sinfonia Concertante for
Cello and Orchestra, Op. 125. [Review:
Prince Georgian April 1, 2012]
This
time Maestro Elliott lent his formidable musical talents in support of an
amazing young soloist, Gabriel Cabezas,
in a performance of one of the great cello concerti, the Saint-Saëns Concerto for Cello No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33.
At twenty, Mr. Cabezas is the winner of the 15th annual Sphinx Competition, and
Sphinx's 2012 Isaac Stern Award. As soloist, he has appeared with the New York
Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, the National Symphony of
Costa Rica, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the New World Symphony, and the Nashville
Symphony. His technical proficiency and musicianship was partnered with the
Philharmonic's demonstrated musical ability to showcase and not overwhelm guest
soloists. The brilliance of Mr. Cabezas' playing electrified the audience.
 |
| Anthony Elliott Conductor and Cellist |
At the
end of the performance, the audience was treated to a very special unannounced
performance of the Sonata for Two Cellos in
G Major by Jean-Baptiste Barrière (1707 – 1747). With two masters of the
instrument playing together the result was magical. I asked Mr. Ellis about the tonal qualities
of the two instruments and he kindly explained to me that Mr. Cabezas played a
very good 80 year old American made cello, while Mr. Elliott's instrument was
made in Italy in 1703.
After
intermission, Mr. Elliott conducted the Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73. Sometimes referred to as the 'Pastoral'
Symphony because of perceived hints of the famous Beethoven's Sixth, and
accordingly most times performed with that reference in mind, this time Mr.
Elliott brought out what Brahms wrote about his work: that it is "...so
melancholy that you will not be able to bear it. I have never written anything
so sad, and the score must come out in mourning." The emotional content of
music was writ large in Mr. Elliott's performance
and the Philharmonic rose to the occasion.
Mr.
Elliott was able to fuse the strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion into a
personal tonal statement that supported his interpretation. This fusion of the
parts into a whole is distinct from Mr. Ellis, who produces a musical parfait
of layered distinct sounds, crystallized in a glittering sound. The
Philharmonic's ability to respond to two distinct
conducting styles and interpretations is a sign of their splendid professional
abilities.
The
evening started with a performance of Roussel's Bacchus
et Ariane, Suite No. 2, Op. 43. I was delighted that Maestro Elliott kept
the Prince George's Philharmonic tradition of a musical preview and explanation
(with the orchestra playing musical motifs of significance) to help the
audience understand what they were about to hear. Mr. Elliott began the night
with a wonderful spirited performance.
The
Prince George's Philharmonic continues to dazzle; you really need to come and
listen to this first-rate ensemble, a county treasure.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
- 8:00pm
Clarice Smith
Performing Arts Center, College Park, MD
Charles Ellis,
conductor - Michael Mizrahi, piano
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 24 in
C Minor, K. 491
Mahler Symphony No. 1 in D Major
(Titan)
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