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The SF Symphony's Summer in the City is all about giving the audience easy aural pleasure. The program we attended included Dvořák's New World Symphony, a Beethoven piano concerto No. 5, and a Slavonic Dance (again by Dvořák.) But easy pleasure didn't mean't mean that these were dumbed down. Famous pieces, yes; but these are still important works, and highly difficult to perform.
And the SF Symphony, clad in white (who knew they had home and away jerseys?), is not taking the warhorse nature of the program for granted, and they played with their hearts. Assistant conductor James Gaffigan wagged his baton like his life depended on it. He imparted an energetic, almost bombastic take on the Dvořák pieces. Although we would have appreciated a more light-handed approach to the Slavonic Dance, instead of the square rendition slightly devoid of swing. Nevertheless, it's nice to be able to enjoy Gaffigan before he lands some music director gig somewhere.
The piano concerto featured the amazing Natasha Paremski. She played with an endearing and flamboyant directness, but with loads of sincerity. She wooed us with the softest soft scales and trills you could do on a 9 foot Steinway, and with her delicate steadiness.
The concert concluded with a Q&A, the so-called "Off the Podium" sessions, which take place semi-regularly on weekend performances. A few oral highlights: Natasha admitted hand painting the heels of her bright red concert shoes; there was some debate about her origin ("You are from LA?" asked Gaffigan. "I'm from Moscow, whatever," she replied. Oops); and when asked how he could conduct Natasha while turning his back to her, Gaffigan replied, "I can feel the piano with my ass," followed by a butt mooning gesture demonstration. (Gosh, we should have thought of asking that question.)
Interestingly, we learned that they rehearse the summer series only once, and that most of the gestures of the conductors are not there to keep a beat, but rather to elicit a color. "Conducting is an anticipatory art," Gaffigan explained, so that his gestures translate into sound, but with various delays.
Some of this program (the Slavonic dance) repeats on Sunday, 7/20, in a free performance at Dolores Park (2 p.m.). What's more, the energetic Gaffigan will lead the other performances of the Summer in the City program. The cast of these always include some up and coming performer, like Paremski or trumpetist Alison Balsom or pianist Peng Peng.
Candy for the ears, candy for the eyes, an excellent way to waste the summer away.
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a little waspy, don't you think?
tomorrow belongs to me.
For the record, I've never before seen the word groin appear in a classical music review.
Goddamit! I missed the New World again. Is there any way to have a subscription to the symphony yet still be cool in this town?
Gaffigan is a wonderful conductor, and little rehearsal brings out the best in him when the pieces are simpler, like the Mozart evening this coming Thursday. Highly recommended.