The Philadelphia Orchestra's 1962 recording "The 'Glorious Sounds of Christmas" showcased the storied 'Philadelphia Sound' under legendary maestro Eugene Ormandy, and last weekend British conductor Bramwell Tovey revisited that repertoire, and put his own stamp on the orchestra's holiday concerts, with the help of the mighty Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia.
Tovey is known for his droll wit and has a pocketful of audience jibes, putting everyone in a good mood. At one point he reminded the audience "Just think, in a few days... you're going to see those members of your family who are not usually a part of your lives."
The concert was packed with seasonal fare and classical repertoire, from 13th century chorales to Gustav Holst's 'In the Bleak Midwinter.' Tovey is a fine jazz pianist, popping on and off the podium to the piano, laughing all the way on his arrangements for Sleigh Ride and Jingle Bells, for instance, letting this orchestra swing ala the Basie Band. The Mendelssohns also dug in with sonic power on Tovey's arrangement of the gospel hymn 'Go Tell It On The Mountain.'
Another highlight was his version of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and providing piano accompaniment with words prompting musical quotes- "Visions of Sugarplums" cued Tchaikovsky's "dance of the sugarplum fairies" and "threw open the sash" led to melodies of 'Moon River.' Assistant concertmaster Juliet Kang performed a lush violin rendition of 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' her rich tones engulfing Verizon Hall and Tovey on light counterpoint jazz piano riffs.
The maestro took a moment to eulogize legendary conductor Kurt Masur who died Dec. 19 at age 88. He spoke of Masur's greatness with the New York Philharmonic and artistic and personal bravery in Germany before the Iron Curtain was torn down.
Tovey dedicated the performance of Silent Night to Masur and spoke to the power of music to literally bring peace. He evoked Christmas Eve 1914, in the trenches of 'no man's land' as WWI raged and the German army started singing 'Stille Nacht' then in the distance French and British armies joined in and everyone lay down their arms, at least for that night. A most eloquent version on this night with premier trumpeter David Bilger playing the opening on flugelhorn, then the Mendelssohn Club singing a verse in German, then Bilger's variation, then the choir finishing in English.
Yannick waltzes out 2015 with Angela Meade. Soprano Angela Meade (photo: courtesy Angela Meade)
On New Year's Eve, Philadelphia Orchestra musical director Yannick Nézet-Séguin will be back on the podium, with champagne and joined by Met opera star soprano Angela Meade, an alum of the Philly's prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts.
Earlier this month, Meade had just finished performing Bellini's Norma at LA Opera, one of her signature roles, and looking forward to performing in Philly. Meade's was resident artist at AVA in the same year that star tenors Michael Fabiano and Bryan Hymel also were there.
"My year at AVA with Bryan and Michael is so memorable and we're all having very busy careers right now. I've been doing a lot of performing in Spain and also more in Germany. Things are starting to pick up," Angela quietly admits. Among Meade's many accolades is the 2012 Beverly Sills Artist Award and the 2011 Richard Tucker Award.
Meade made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 2008 in the lead in Verdi's Ernani, covering for an ailing colleague. In 2013 Meade was onstage again at the last minute when a soloist was suddenly ill, this time in Philly with Nézet-Séguin who was conducting Verdi's Requiem, a demanding work, but Meade modestly said it was not really a big deal, and recalled. "It was a piece I felt comfortable with and it was a piece I know well, so why not jump in."
She also is very in sync with Yannick, "I love working with him," Meade intimated "He's so passionate about what he does and he is also so accommodating for what a singer needs. Plus he's always so joyful to work with," Meade said.
Meade said Nézet-Séguin collaborated on the NYE concert repertory "He and I did a concert in Saratoga Springs with (tenor) Bryan Hymel and a lot of the repertoire we did in that concert he wanted me to do again for this concert," Meade said. Meade will perform arias from La bohème, Manon Lescaut, Gianni Schicchi, La forza del destino, La Traviata. , among others.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin (courtesy Philadelphia Orchestra)
In February, Meade will also be back on the Metropolitan Opera in New York singing Leonora in Verdi's Ill Travotore. Then will perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra as soloist in performances of Mahler's 8th Symphony. "My first Mahler's 8th" Meade said. Nézet-Séguin is widely considered a masterful interpreter of the composer's symphonic works.
Nézet-Séguin will have a lot to celebrate on New Year's Eve, he was named Music America's Artist of the Year and he has also picked up Grammy nominations for his Deutsche Grammophon release Rachmaninoff Variations featuring piano soloist Daniil Trifonov.