Philharmonic revives 1919 performance for 75th
By John Mangum
The Los Angeles Philharmonic celebrated its 75th birthday with a
six-foot tall cake. It didn’t need candles because the orchestra
was on fire.
Monday night’s program replicated the one played by the L. A.
Philharmonic at the first concert on Oct. 24, 1919.
Zubin Mehta, who directed the orchestra for 16 years, shared the
rostrum with current music director Esa-Pekka Salonen. Both
volunteered their services for an evening which benefited the
musician’s pension fund. The concert raised over $250,000.
Mehta directed the Philharmonic from 1962 to 1978. Known for his
political consciousness, the conductor once led the orchestra in a
legendary Vietnam War protest concert in front of Royce Hall
following the death of Kent State students.
Maestro Mehta steered the orchestra through Bohemian composer
Antonin Dvorák’s Ninth Symphony, nicknamed "From the New
World." Dvorák composed the symphony during his residence in
New York in 1893.
Well known for his use of Bohemian folk songs in his past work,
Dvorák believed that American composers needed to turn to
their own folk songs in order to create a national style of
composition. The composer believed that these "American" tunes lay
dormant in African-American folk songs, which he used for much of
his Ninth Symphony’s thematic material.
Unfortunately, the orchestra seemed under-rehearsed for
Dvorák’s symphony. In spite of the rough edges, Mehta guided
the Philharmonic in a powerful interpretation of the work.
He took the introduction to the first movement very slowly,
leading into an exciting rendition of the first movement. Marred
only by sporadic insecurities, the orchestra produced a full Â
bodied sound, grounded in the powerful tone of the lower strings.
The finale came off best, the brass blazing confidently through the
closing bars.
Salonen took over for the second half of the program. His strong
relationship with the musicians seemed obvious. They responded to
his every gesture and understood his glances and facial expressions
perfectly.
Actor Robert Stack, who hosted the evening, quoted Harold
Dicterow, the leader of the second violins, during the introduction
to the second half of the concert. "We play better for (Salonen)
than for anyone else," said Stack. After hearing the second half of
the program, nothing seemed more true.
Salonen led the orchestra through 19th century piano virtuoso
Franz Liszt’s symphonic poem "Les Préludes." Based on a poem,
the piece depicts the stages of human life, from birth to
death.
Salonen’s typically analytical conducting dissolved into a warm
glow for Liszt’s songful string writing. During the coda, the
bracing virtuosity of the orchestra joined the sheer volume to
produce an overwhelming effect.
Carl Maria von Weber’s popular overture to his opera "Oberon"
followed the Liszt. Weber composed the overture in England, where
the opera was to be produced in 1826. Salonen’s performance evoked
the enchantment and grandeur of Weber’s fantasy world
perfectly.
On the heels of "Oberon" came Emanuel Chabrier’s rhapsody
"España." Salonen and the orchestra played this virtuoso piece
for all it was worth. The fast and furious rhapsody contained solos
for almost every instrument, showcasing the talents of the
individual players.
It becomes more apparent with each Philharmonic concert that
these players provide Los Angeles with a world-class orchestra. The
relationship between Salonen and the musicians continues to produce
concerts of the highest quality, born from a 75-year Philharmonic
tradition.
Founded in 1919, the orchestra received support during its first
15 years from William Andrews Clark Jr., who donated over $3
million to the Philharmonic. He also brought English conductor
Walter Henry Rothwell to Los Angeles, and Rothwell’s reputation
managed to secure top flight players and soloists. Composer Ferde
Grofé played viola in the original Philharmonic, and Alfred
Wallenstein, his colleague in the cello section, went on to become
a conductor whose accomplishments included a tenure as music
director of the L.A. Philharmonic.
Two students of the legendary conductor and composer Gustav
Mahler, Otto Klemperer and Bruno Walter, worked with the
Philharmonic as well. Other conductors who appeared with the
orchestra include the underrated Dutchman Eduard van Beinum, the
flamboyant Leonard Bernstein, and André Previn. Contralto
Marian Anderson, pianist Artur Rubinstein, and violinist Jascha
Heifetz top the list of soloists who joined the orchestra to
further enrich its history.
Everyone celebrated this history Monday night. Bobby McFerrin
led the audience in singing "Happy Birthday" to the orchestra. The
Kodo Drummers, a Japanese percussion group, deafened concert-goers
during intermission. They provided welcome relief from another
infernally tedious, ever-so-proper 20-minute arrangement of
Boccherini’s "Minuet for String Quintet."
Monday night celebrated the achievement of an orchestra that has
joined the ranks to become world-class.
MUSIC: For L.A. Philharmonic info, call (213) 972-7300.