According to Christian Knapp, who was the guest conductor this weekend at the Stamford Symphony Orchestra, and discussing Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony #4 (The Italian), the early Romantic composers such as Schubert and Mendelsohn had much in common with Jane Austen: they had the same restrained emotions. I'm not so sure, on either side, having watched the recent Austen craze on PBS, and listening to the second movement of the above symphony.
All this is by way of a lead-in to today's enjoyable concert. Christian Knapp did not disappoint, though I may have heard better interpretations of the Mendelssohn in my long life.
The main event was Joaquin Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez, beautifully played by Jason Vieaux. The (reportedly famous) centerpiece of the work is the emotionally charged second movement, an Adagio in B minor in the Flamenco style. Absolutely riveting! A work well to be recommended for one's collection. (More disks with music by Joaquin Rodrigo)
The concert opened with the Symphony in D Major, Op.11, No.2 (Overture to the opera L’amant anonyme) by Joseph de Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799), a composer unknown, I suspect, to most of the audience, including myself. The chevalier himself was certainly an interesting character, and more may be read about him here.
The concert was a fitting finale of the season. The only beef I have with the SSO is the relative dearth of contemporary music, but unfortunately, I'm standing rather alone there, ancient though I am…and young though the music director is …
