BEETHOVEN AND MENDELSSOHN FEATURED ON OPENING CONCERT OF IV SYMPHONY’S 34^TH SEASON

By Mitch Sturman

A large and appreciative audience was on hand Saturday night for the opening concert of the 34^th season of the Imperial Valley Symphony. We are indeed fortunate to have such an ensemble here in El Centro, bringing classical music at no charge to local audiences, and much thanks and praise should go to the ensemble’s founding Music Director/Conductor Joel Jacklich.

Saturday night’s concert featured two popular romantic works, perennial favorites of concert goers the world over: Beethoven’s majestic “Emperor” Piano Concerto #5, and Felix Mendelssohn’s stirring Symphony #3, also known as the “Scottish” Symphony. The concert was dedicated to the memory of long time valley musician and music educator Peggy Przytula, who for many years was the organist at St. Mary’s and St. Anthony’s Churches, and who first organized the music classes at St. Mary’s School and taught them there for 45 years.

The opening work featured pianist Dr. Nadia Shpachenko. No stranger to the IVSO, she has been described by critics as a “truly inspiring and brilliant pianist…spellbinding in sensitivity and mastery of technique.” Her performance of the “Emperor” concerto was polished and refined, with much care given to bring out the composer’s intricate contrapuntal inner voices. Her tone was full and rich throughout, and with the exception of an occasional horn crack the orchestral did an admirable job accompanying the soloist.

The program closed with a heartfelt rendition of the Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” Symphony. To this reviewer, who has attended many IVSO concerts, the orchestra never sounded better; the sound of the orchestra, especially in the first and third movements, was rich and full, even though there were fewer string players than normal. Only the devilish Scherzo was on shaky ground, but what the orchestra lacked in technical panache was more than compensated by the color and emotion of the performance. I am certain that many listeners will be returning for the next concert on February 23, 2008, which will feature among other works Rimsky-Korsakov’s mighty tone poem “Scheherazade.”

Mitch Sturman is the band director for Wilson Junior High School and the El Centro Elementary School District. He is a professional clarinetist who served as principal clarinet for both the Singapore and Hong Kong Symphonies prior to coming to the Imperial Valley.