By Josef Sekon, DMA
He began by elaborating on specific, interesting events regarding the works to be performed, the composers and the history that surrounded them.
The concert Vox Populi (Voice of the People) offered four interesting works opening with Slava! A Political Overture for orchestra (1977) by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990); Egmont Overture (1787) by Ludwig van Beethoven (1777-1827); Celestial Dance (1995) by Henry Mallicone and the Symphony No. 5 (1937) by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975).
The prominent Soviet cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich, “Slava” as Rostropovich was called by his friends, (In Russian, “slava” translates into “glory” and is used as a nickname for those who name has “slava” as part of their name: Miroslav, Dragoslav, Miroslave, etc.) asked his close friend Leonard Bernstein to help initiate his inaugural concert as Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra and to compose a rousing work for the opening festivities. The World Premiere took place on October 11, 1977 at the Kennedy Center with Rostropovich on the podium.
Beethoven’s Egmont is set in the dark and somber key of F Minor, a key that Beethoven did not often use. A series of full chords introduced the first theme in which the oboe, clarinet and bassoon performed with great skill. Orchestral balance and counterpoint between the high and low strings was impressive. Following the soft woodwind choral Stewart built the orchestral sound to a staggering climax with the trumpets and timpani and a moment of glory for the piccolo.
The opening’s somber struggle between cellos and double basses that passes to the brass exposed the political demons and unrest of that time. The effective piano and brass entry that followed and the violin line that played over the cellos slowly repeated rhythmic figure solidified the mood. The second movement opened in the lower strings again, but offered melodic relief with a violin solo. The final movement presented a gradual acceleration of forces fermenting since the onset.
The performance was brilliant as Maestro Stewart congratulated practically each and every member of the orchestra against a thunderous standing ovation in appreciation of this monumental performance.