A concert featuring compositions by Maurice Ravel (including the well-known “Bolero”) and George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” was presented on June 29th on the lawn at St. Mary’s College of Maryland by the Chesapeake Orchestra in the raging heat at 8pm. Air conditioned rooms with cool water were available. “We’re hot” exclaimed Jeffrey Silberschlag, music director for the concert series. The order of presentation was rearranged due to the expected fireworks presentation at Dennis Point during the concert that would interrupt the mood of some of the softer works.
The evening began with Ravel’s “Le tombeau de Couperin”, a piece written as a memorial to his friends who died in World War I. The piece was lovely, beginning with a soft lilting melody and repetitive themes in the first movement, some solos (flute and more) with a little more warmth and variety in the second movement, and the third movement was gay and bright with lots of staccato and plucked strings in the third movement.
Ravel’s “Piano Concerto in G” featured Csíky Boldizsár (pronounced Chiskee, pictured), a Romanian pianist who was well acquainted with the Concerto. The Chesapeake Orchestra made a major search to find a pianist who could play the music. The piece began with a whip crack, and a jazzy style. The second movement was much softer and gentler and the last movement was bolder with a variety of styles and lots of musical slide solos. Described as a “new gem” by Jeffrey Silberschlag, Mr. Boldizsár played the piece well and received a standing ovation for his efforts.
Ravel’s Bolero was played amazingly well for such a hot night. While the well-known piece begins with only half the strings playing the repetitive theme very softly with the violins held sideways like guitars, the bold loud end of the piece requires much energy and endurance. (and I don’t think a single musician fainted!) The fireworks in the background added a little something too.
The Chesapeake Orchestra ended the concert with George Gershwin’s famous “An American in Paris”, complete with taxi horns and sounds of the busy Parisian hustle and bustle. Mr. Silberschlag told the audience that Gershwin studied with Ravel and they influenced each other’s musical style. I thought the piece was particularly well played and the standing ovation by the crowd showed their agreement.
