On September 13, the Performing Arts Center at San LorenzoValleyHigh School was filled to capacity with people waiting to hear Michel Singher conduct Espressivo. The music that was played represented 18th, 19th and 20th century composers. The sounds of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Jacques Ibert, Richard Wagner and Paul Hindemith were full of frivolity, power, tenderness and a touch of all that is wild.
Singher introduced each piece that was played by telling a brief story about the composer and the music. Often humorous, his descriptions identified the musical elements that both seasoned symphony goers and neophytes could anticipate hearing.
The sounds of Ibert’s Capriccio (1937) brought images to mind of Disney-like characters playing hide and seek with the listeners as the performers served a playful but elegant melody. The players, all world class musicians, presented a capricious piece of music with the smooth touch of seasoned professionals.
The Maestro, Singher, led these musicians through Hindemeth’s Kammrkonzert Nr. 1, Op. 24 (1921) with ease and respect for the work of a 26-year old composer. The sounds were new to the composer’s era. Evoking images of flying things, it seemed as if a swarm of bumble bees were nearing then turning into dragons flying dangerously near then being transformed into World War I flying machines. At the conclusion of the piece, the percussionist, Gregory Messa, provided the machine gun sounds that took care of the threat of approaching bombers — and then there was silence — for a moment.
A standing ovation expressed the audience’s appreciation for the Conductor and the Orchestra.
The double bass player, Arnold Gregorian, said that the instrument he used had been created by Parisian Charles George Brugere in 1900. Gregorian caressed the carved lion head that graced the instrument and stated that “it was a favorite.” He said “after 42 years playing with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, I retired and came to Santa Cruz. I drove all the way carrying all of my instruments in the car.”
Like Singher and Gregorian, many of the performers were also drawn to Santa CruzCounty and now live in the area.
The next performances of Espressivo will on Thursday, January 7, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at Peace United Church of Christ, 900 High Street, Santa Cruz.
For more information: Espressivo www.espressorch.org
