October 2003 - Nr. 10
KW and Beyond
by Irena Syrokomla
Centre in the Square – Masterpiece Series
The opening night for the Masterpiece Series this season did not required introductions of either the conductor or the pieces to be performed. Martin Fischer-Dieskau was greeted like an old friend, his smile showing pleasure at being in the familiar place with the welcoming audience.
The Beethoven Piano Concerto No.1 is well known and it was the matter of degree of artistic quality and not hearing it for the first time. The pianist engaged for this occasion was James Parker, one of the prominent Canadian pianists, playing seamlessly without notes – in a wonderful unison with the conductor and the orchestra. Needless to say, Martin conducted without the aid of the notes as well. The piano was clear, perfect technique, neither the orchestra dominated, led or followed, nor the pianist tried to lead or rush, as it happens sometimes, just the ideal sense of being in tune, the pianist, the conductor and the orchestra. It was an unusual pleasure in our community; it is not that frequent to hear great pianists performing in Kitchener.
As for the Brahms Symphony No. 2 – one listened to it like to an old friend, enjoying the lines of music and intricate passages. Again Martin Fischer-Dieskau conducted without notes, and has obviously done it many times before. The First Violinist, Stephen Sitarski, showed his talent and technique and was applauded wholeheartedly. The outcome of the summer of 1877 Brahms spent in South Austria keeps bringing the sense of sun and wind and the glorious landscape of that region.
The only one new piece for us, premiered in May 1989 in Toronto, was one of Glenn Buhr, our K-W resident and a KWS Director of Contemporary Music. It was short, only 4 minutes, but absolutely amazing in its clarity and composition. It is entitled Akasha which in Sanskrit means space or sky. As Buhr himself wrote it "is very gentle, with a steady quiet rhythm played by the strings and glockenspiel, and a floating chorale in the bass which gradually rises to a pivotal climax, with the woodwinds scurrying up and around in the background".
In the following seven concerts of the series the music of Mozart, Mendelssohn, Liszt and Berlioz among others will be presented. In January, Alexander Tselyakov, a pianist visiting from Russia, will play a Rachmaninoff concerto no.2. In April, there will be an opportunity to hear Swan of Tuonela by Sibelius. If not all of them, then at least some give an opportunity not to be missed.
Of course, there are several alternative series in the Centre-in-the-Square, eight concerts of KWS Pops offering lighter fare such as Lehar, Sousa, Puccini, even Broadway hits. On October 31st and November 1st there will be a Fright Night concert, dishing out such melodies as Dial M for Murder, Ghost, Peer Gynt – In the Hall of the Mountain King and the program comment is encouraging the audience to come dressed up for Halloween.
Another series of three concerts is Light Classics on Sunday afternoon – with the program containing music from Swan Lake, Firebird by Stravinsky, and Chopin’s Piano Concerto no.1.
There is quite a lot going on in K-W and the Centre-in-the-Square. We are lucky to have a professional orchestra here in town and a conductor of the caliber of Mr. Fischer-Dieskau. Let’s take advantage of it and attend!
There are still tickets available, either by a voucher program or on an individual basis.
