Tuesday, November 19, 1996
MUSIC:
Hollywood success to perform with Chamber OrchestraBy Jasmine
Pachnanda
Daily Bruin Contributor
After a musical career in Hollywood and work on popular movies
such as "The Lion King," "True Lies," "Speed," and "A League of
Their Own," UCLA graduate Susan Greenberg is finally coming home to
perform with the UCLA Chamber Orchestra.
In addition to a piccolo solo from Greenberg, tonight’s Chamber
Orchestra will feature three pieces, from a contemporary piece to
classic Beethoven, at its second concert of the year.
After the success of the first concert earlier this fall,
conductor Jon Robertson hopes that Tuesday’s evening of music will
continue this trend.
"I’m really looking forward to the concert. All of the music is
extremely exciting. I am delighted that a lot of non-music majors
have been attending the concerts," Robertson says.
The performers have the same feelings towards the concert.
"It’s a very eclectic program," says clarinet player David
Beaudry. "There is a sample of everything for everyone."
Part of the reason that the Chamber Orchestra believes that the
concert will appeal to a large audience is the contemporary piece
by Bruce Broughton, "Piccolo Concerto," which features Greenberg as
the soloist.
"It’s an exciting and fun piece. It’s nice to present a new and
unique piece and it’s a great opportunity to have a former UCLA
student present the piece," Robertson says.
Greenberg, who received her B.A. and M.A. from UCLA, currently
plays for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.
In addition, Greenberg has performed with the Los Angeles
Philharmonic, New York City Opera and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
However, there’s no place like home.
"I thought it would be nice to perform this piece at UCLA.
Everyone is putting a lot of hard work in it and I’m really
enjoying it. I’d like to give something back and share," Greenberg
says.
Like Greenberg, composer Broughton has also been involved with
television and movies throughout his musical career. He has been
nominated for 15 Emmys and has won six, most recently for the theme
song to the cartoon "Tiny Toon Adventures." He has worked on
numerous movies such as "House Arrest," "Tombstone" and "Honey, I
Blew up the Kid."
But tonight this background in modern music will combine with
the classical sounds of the piccolo.
"It’s unbelievable. More notes than you would ever believe
could, are going to come out of that piccolo," Robertson says.
In addition to the piccolo concerto, the orchestra will also
perform Alberto Ginastera’s "Variciones Concertantes." "This piece
is very interesting and there are sudden twists with rhythm and
dynamics. It has an extraordinary Spanish rhythmic setting and it
speaks to the joy of people," Robertson says.
Although the orchestra is relatively small, Robertson explains
that this only enhances the piece.
"We are like a sports car," he says. "The piece has so many
twists and turns that are so fast and sudden that a limousine, like
a bigger orchestra, wouldn’t be able to handle it. It keeps them on
their toes."
From there the audience can relax to the more classic and
harmonious sounds of Beethoven’s "Symphony Number 8," one of the
composer’s most interesting and difficult pieces.
Although there is much excitement and anticipation about the
concert, the orchestra had only about six rehearsals to prepare the
pieces after their performance two weeks ago with the UCLA
Philharmonic, a larger orchestra on campus.
"I want to prepare them for the real world of performing. They
need to be able to read well and learn the techniques to apply it
to the music instantly," Robertson says. "We have to rehearse with
a great deal of concentration and pull it together to make it sound
great."
Despite the lack of time, Robertson also wants to teach the
orchestra about the different aspects of music, especially with
Ginastera’s piece.
The result of this eclectic mix of music is a concert that aims
to be a learning experience for both the audience and the
players.
"The multiple rhythms in this piece is something a lot of
classical players aren’t used to and it was a challenge for them.
This is both an aesthetic and a learning piece," Robertson
says.
MUSIC: UCLA Chamber Orchestra plays at Schoenberg Hall tonight
at 8 p.m. Admission is free.
Susan Greenberg will perform a piccolo solo at tonight’s
concert.