Spring Break
Chailly, Li Wow Audience
200-Year-Old Gewandhaus Orchestra Gives Jorgensen Impressive Performance
Joe Budzelek
Issue date: 2/28/07 Section: Focus
One does not need to travel to Boston or New York to attend a world-class musical performance.
Traveling the world for over 200 years, the Gewandhaus Orchestra has made the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts its latest stop during their current tour. Based out of Leipzig, Germany, the Gewandhaus Orchestra formed in 1781 under the conducting of Johann Adam Hiller.
Centuries later, Italian conductor Riccardo Chailly is the orchestra's 19th conductor and has been at the helm since August 2005. Leading the orchestra was the 24-year-old virtuoso pianist, Yundi Li. This is Li's second return to Storrs after his well-reviewed, sold-out recital in 2006.
The performance was slightly delayed due to tardy piano tuning. The audience filled only two-thirds of the orchestra level and the mezzanine was nearly empty.
Chailly stood atop of a tall two-foot- tall podium as the stage was barely large enough to cater to such a massive orchestra.
Performing the music of the German Romantic composer Richard Strauss and Hungarian Romantic composer Franz Liszt, the Gewandhaus Orchestra wowed the audience with its powerful performance.
Opening the program was Strauss's tone poem, "Don Juan Op. 20." The piece was emotional, even during its quieter parts. Wide dynamic contrasts accentuated the louder and softer parts of the piece. Chailly's conducting was animated and entertaining as his puffy hair bounced and swayed with every hop of his conducting. During this piece, the orchestra's three percussionists were fun to watch. After sitting idle for multiple measures, they prepared for their crashes or bangs seconds ahead. Once it was their time to shine, they embellished their cues to the fullest. Students enjoyed the opening piece.
"I'm not a huge fan of classical music but one of my favorite composers is Strauss," said Jessica Belicka, a 6th -semester communication major. "It was really great to hear such a talented group of musicians play his music."
Liszt's "Piano Concerto No. 1, E-flat Major" was Yundi Li's first piece with the orchestra of the night. Impressively, Li required no sheet music for this piece. His dynamic control and dexterity was unreal. His amazing technique had his hands flying all across the keys playing sparrow-quick melodies with ease. It felt like Li was playing "horse" against himself on the piano, upping the ante with new tricks to be found deep in his sleeves. The concerto's conclusion marked the end of the first set; Li, Chailly and the entire Orchestra were treated to a standing ovation.
Closing the program was Strauss's tone poem "Ein Heldenleben Op. 40." While Li was the focus of the Liszt concerto, more of the focus was placed in the entire orchestra. In at over a half- hour long, the epic piece was a fitting way to close out the performance.
"I was really enthralled with the second Strauss piece because the orchestra was able to keep the audience interested despite its overwhelming length," said Kevin Kraus, a 6th-semester finance and history double major. "I could have wasted my time and listened to three Fallout Boy albums by the time 'Ein Heldenleben' was finished."
Despite the piece's length, the audience remained captivated throughout.
Although the attendance was small, the Gewandhaus Orchestra wowed everyone in the audience.
Traveling the world for over 200 years, the Gewandhaus Orchestra has made the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts its latest stop during their current tour. Based out of Leipzig, Germany, the Gewandhaus Orchestra formed in 1781 under the conducting of Johann Adam Hiller.
Centuries later, Italian conductor Riccardo Chailly is the orchestra's 19th conductor and has been at the helm since August 2005. Leading the orchestra was the 24-year-old virtuoso pianist, Yundi Li. This is Li's second return to Storrs after his well-reviewed, sold-out recital in 2006.
The performance was slightly delayed due to tardy piano tuning. The audience filled only two-thirds of the orchestra level and the mezzanine was nearly empty.
Chailly stood atop of a tall two-foot- tall podium as the stage was barely large enough to cater to such a massive orchestra.
Performing the music of the German Romantic composer Richard Strauss and Hungarian Romantic composer Franz Liszt, the Gewandhaus Orchestra wowed the audience with its powerful performance.
Opening the program was Strauss's tone poem, "Don Juan Op. 20." The piece was emotional, even during its quieter parts. Wide dynamic contrasts accentuated the louder and softer parts of the piece. Chailly's conducting was animated and entertaining as his puffy hair bounced and swayed with every hop of his conducting. During this piece, the orchestra's three percussionists were fun to watch. After sitting idle for multiple measures, they prepared for their crashes or bangs seconds ahead. Once it was their time to shine, they embellished their cues to the fullest. Students enjoyed the opening piece.
"I'm not a huge fan of classical music but one of my favorite composers is Strauss," said Jessica Belicka, a 6th -semester communication major. "It was really great to hear such a talented group of musicians play his music."
Liszt's "Piano Concerto No. 1, E-flat Major" was Yundi Li's first piece with the orchestra of the night. Impressively, Li required no sheet music for this piece. His dynamic control and dexterity was unreal. His amazing technique had his hands flying all across the keys playing sparrow-quick melodies with ease. It felt like Li was playing "horse" against himself on the piano, upping the ante with new tricks to be found deep in his sleeves. The concerto's conclusion marked the end of the first set; Li, Chailly and the entire Orchestra were treated to a standing ovation.
Closing the program was Strauss's tone poem "Ein Heldenleben Op. 40." While Li was the focus of the Liszt concerto, more of the focus was placed in the entire orchestra. In at over a half- hour long, the epic piece was a fitting way to close out the performance.
"I was really enthralled with the second Strauss piece because the orchestra was able to keep the audience interested despite its overwhelming length," said Kevin Kraus, a 6th-semester finance and history double major. "I could have wasted my time and listened to three Fallout Boy albums by the time 'Ein Heldenleben' was finished."
Despite the piece's length, the audience remained captivated throughout.
Although the attendance was small, the Gewandhaus Orchestra wowed everyone in the audience.
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