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A love affair at Seattle Symphony

A love affair at Seattle Symphony
by Rod Parke - SGN A&E Writer The best experiences are the hardest to describe. This Seattle Symphony concert with Mstislav Rostropovich conducting combined genius (composers) with genius (conductor) and whipped it all together with such warmth and humanity that it reminded one of what music is supposed to be about. Rostropovich is no stranger to Seattle audiences. At nearly 80, he seemed to leap onto the stage and rushed to the podium, which he mounted each time by skipping the first step. His smile said it all: "We're going to have fun, ladies and gentlemen. Let's get to it!" His energy and sense of fun was apparent in the players, who seemed to share his spirit and animation. They responded to his every gesture. Everything came alive. And lively music this was! We began with a "Festive Overture" that Shostakovich wrote late in life in a matter of hours. Bubbling with joyful energy and playful ideas, it was the perfect opening. When Rostropovich turned near its conclusion to conduct the many brass that were positioned up front in the first tier boxes, his gestures seemed to invite not just the players but the hall itself and its audience to join in the fun. This man knows how to make an audience love him. The response he got from the full house was thunderous. We moved from late Shostakovich to the composer at nineteen, when he wrote his "final exam" at the Leningrad Conservatory. His 'Symphony No. 1, Op.10' is a work of astounding originality and vitality. The harmonies and tonal palette far surpassed the conservative vein of his professors. Rostropovich revealed every nuance of this polished work, drawing exquisite playing and a vibrant sound from the orchestra. This evening's program might have been entitled "The Night of the Tuba." Both Shostakovich and Prokofiev used this instrument to add a masculine underpinning to the low end of the orchestral palette. They used it a lot! Christopher Oika was certainly up to the task, providing a powerful force without ever overpowering the rest of the orchestral sound. Prokofiev filled the second half of the program with his 'Symphony No. 5.' A mature work of admittedly more "meat" than the youthful Shostakovich work, this work received a performance that surpassed any I have previously heard. Textures that on recordings often sounded murky were here transparent and lovely. The famous second movement theme depicting the Trans Siberian Railroad steamed ahead with infectious energy and sonic delights from the active percussion section. And the slow third movement avoided the bogged down heaviness often encountered in other readings. With the rousing return of the railroad theme, brought to sonic heights reserved for such climaxes, the orchestra and Maestro Rostropovich brought the house to its feet once again. What a satisfying evening! I can't wait for his next visit to Seattle. Reviewer Rod Parke can be reached at rod@sgn.org.