Vermont Philharmonic pulls off Brahms' First
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By Jim Lowe Times Argus Staff - Published: June 3, 2009
ST. JOHNSBURY – A decade of work paid off this weekend when the Vermont Philharmonic, now in its 50th year, pulled off Brahms' First Symphony, a feat unthinkable 10 years ago. Music Director Lou Kosma and the professional and community players have worked hard, and it paid off in concerts in Colchester on Saturday and the St. Johnsbury School on Sunday.
At Sunday's concert, the Philharmonic also performed Addison composer Jorge Martín's "City Lights, Country Sun," commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the orchestra, with conviction, and Vermont Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Katherine Winterstein delivered fine performances as soloist in romances by Beethoven and Dvorak. But it was the Brahms that proved the ensemble's mettle.
Brahms' Symphony No. 1 in c minor, Opus 68, is one of the major works of the symphonic repertoire, and one of the most complex and powerful.
From the dark and ominous tidal wave of an opening, punctuated by insistent tympani, this work is full of Romantic emotion, kept barely under control by Brahms' Classical tendencies.
And from this powerful beginning, it was clear that the Philharmonic was different. There was no tentativeness, and concentration and control were there. Any looseness or uncontrolled passion would weaken the drama – but there was none. Not surprisingly, the players were not able to maintain this concentration constantly throughout this massive 50-minute work. But when that concentration was lost, it was soon regained.
Of the four movements, only the performance of the slow movement, Andante sostenuto, was weak. And the power of the opening was well-matched by the rich grandeur of the finale, enriched by the stately and beautiful horn solos by Thea Calitri-Martin, longtime principal.
No, the performance was by no means perfect, but it delivered the musical power of this masterpiece. And it certainly wasn't luck. This enjoyable and deeply moving performance may mark the beginning of a new era for the Philharmonic.
The concentration and attention to detail that made the Brahms work was also evident in the first half. Kosma and the Philharmonic accompanied Winterstein sensitively and effectively. The Boston violinist, who teaches at Middlebury as well as playing with the VSO, performed Dvorak's Romance in f minor, Opus 11, and Beethoven's Romance in F Major, Opus 50, with a natural lyricism and rich and warm sound.
The Philharmonic has been performing Martín's complex work at every concert this season and it received its surest performance. Sunday was a good day for the Vermont Philharmonic.
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