The Catskill Chronicle

Review by Barry Plaxen

NARROWSBURG, NY (October 6, 2011) – Every year, the Delaware Valley Chamber Orchestra (DVCO) presents a “Music of Our Time” concert. The 21^st annual concert of the DVCO was held in the Tusten Theater in Narrowsburg on October 1. It was a tribute to world renowned composer, Lee Hoiby, a Long Eddy resident of many years.

Much has appeared in the press about Hoiby (photo left) since he transitioned in March of this year, one month after a major work of his was performed at a Newburgh Chamber Music concert which he was unable to attend.

Weekend of Chamber Music (WCM) also held a tribute concert this past summer. Hoiby was much-beloved by the Sullivan County music community which he always supported, and for which he always made himself easily accessible. I have fond and vivid memories of his pieces being performed the last few years at WCM concerts in Jeffersonville and Livingston Manor with this giant of a human being in attendance. The 2011 concert program contained personal written tributes to him by musicians, composers and those who shared his modern-day spiritual beliefs.

Sadly, DVOC Artistic Director, composer and flutist Carolyn Steinberg (photo right), was not in attendance due to a last-minute flu-like “incapacitation.” She put together the group of musicians and the music program.

The orchestra, made up of local professionals, was excellent. Conducted by John Yaffé (photo left), the mixture of fine-to-world-class musicians offered up a perfect example of ensemble playing. In fact, I wondered if Steinberg first found “ensemble” players and put them together into this 2011 version of the DVCO, or if she approached orchestra musicians to perform as ensemble players. Either or both, the orchestra was of a superior quality this year.

Because Steinberg was not in attendance, much “tribute” was also given to her for creating this year’s orchestra and the program itself, on which she and Yaffé obviously cooperated. It was an interesting and appropriate selection of works by area composers and the legendary Paul Hindemith – quite moving at times.

First up was Hoiby’s “Concerto for Flute and Orchestra” (2008), lovingly played by flutist Karen Bogardus, followed by Steinberg’s own “Remembering Lee” (2011), a solo piece arranged by Yaffé for orchestra. These two tribute pieces were followed by what was supposed to be “Music of Our Time” – “Die Serenaden” (1924) by Paul Hindemith, perhaps a bit “before” our time – and then a world premiere: composer Larry Lockwood’s slightly minimalist, always melodic “Concerto for Oboe” (2007), with Molly Raum, soloist. In the second half of the program, there were additional works by Hoiby and Steinberg arranged by Yaffé for orchestra, and two pieces by John David Earnest (b. 1940), the last one actually titled “Tribute to Lee Hoiby” (2011).

Not being schooled as a musicologist, I am not able to describe the contemporary music in technical terms. But as an avid concert-goer and music lover, I wish to thank Steinberg and Yaffé for putting together a beautifully performed program of great value. The tribute pieces were all deeply emotional.

The orchestra was a true chamber ensemble, playing under Yaffé’s direction with clarity, and always sounding as one entity. Solos within ensemble pieces were thoughtfully, when not brilliantly, played by fine orchestra members, such as Hannah Ross (viola) and Lawrence Zoernig (cello).

One of Earnest’s pieces, a trio, was superbly performed by Zoerning and the very talented first violinist José Pietri-Coimbre, whose playing has a lush and extremely sweet tone. They were joined by another outstanding and talented DVCO performer, Pascal Archer, who was in total command and is a great “communicator”. This world class clarinetist performed with WCM in July and it was a great pleasure to hear and see him again.

Two world class guest artists were in attendance for the Hindemith secular cantata. I know “Die Serenaden” as performed by a world renowned soprano, but Juliana Janes-Yaffé (photo above) approached the difficult intervals in the music unlike anything I have ever heard before for this kind of, what Hindemith called, “Functional Music”. Janes-Yaffé sang his difficult music with much legato (smoothly), quite amazing for the ‘strange’ interval-jumping and quite unlike how most singers perform contemporary music, making the music “prettier” and making the modern style more lyrical. Janes-Yaffé also performed three songs by Hoiby which she had recorded a few years back, her introduction to Hoiby. She has a lovely voice, her technique is outstanding and one is totally relaxed while listening to her sing difficult music.

Another major highlight of the evening was the other guest artist, oboist Gerard Reuter. When I hear musicians like Mr. Reuter I always state how lucky we are to have musicians of this caliber performing for us locally. He was phenomenal throughout the Hindemith work, especially in its oboe-viola-cello trio movement. I thought it so outstanding that it will be remembered as some of the finest playing by any instrumentalist on any instrument that I have ever heard. (Reuter will be performing for “Music at St. Andrews” Chamber Music Concert on October 22 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in South Fallsburg, Reservations are required: 845-292-8967.)

The concert was co-produced by the much appreciated Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, the Arts Council for Sullivan County, and made possible with funds from The New York State Council on the Arts.