Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

REVIEW: Philharmonic builds to powerful final burst

Music director Harold Weller's vision for the Las Vegas Philharmonic performance of "A World in Harmony" at first appeared strange and contradictory.

It was harmony that included tender lyricism, spectacular dissonances, and raucous effects. However, Weller appeared to thrive on the demands of the more-challenging music. As the evening progressed, he led the orchestra in startling shifts of tonalities and harmonies.

After a lusty performance of "La gazza ladra (The Thieving Magpie)" by Gioacchino Rossini, guest violin soloist Chee-Yun joined the Philharmonic for "Concerto No. 2 in G Minor for violin and orchestra op. 63" by Serge Prokofiev. Chee-Yun's poise, energy and brilliance quickly won the audience's respect. She never competed with the orchestra but carried a greater interpretive responsibility. One moment her tones were rich and energetic, the next instance, lyrical.

The unforced romanticism of Samuel Barber's "Music for a Scene from Shelly, OP 7" was a perfect change in pace in this diverse evening of music.

And it felt as if the whole program was a prelude to the final explosion of Ottorino Respighi's "Roman Festivals." The orchestra was truly inspired with a sophisticated mix of chromatics, harmony and powerful driving rhythms. The beautiful violin solo and sound of the mandolin tempered the flamboyant percussions.

Respighi said of "Roman Festivals" that this composition was as "far as he could go with large-scale works of orchestration." The well-deserved standing ovation confirmed his opinion.