Another glorious weekend at Round Top filled mainly with American music. Women composers such as Joan Tower and Amy Beach beautifully performed by flutist Carol Wincenc and members of the faculty (Jonathan Swartz and Erica Kiesewetter, violins; Nancy Buck, viola and Jesus Castro-Balbi, cello.) One of the most memorable chamber music concert at Round Top, without any doubt.
Then, the Texas Festival Orchestra conducted by Michael Stern performed a tone poem by Charles Tomlinson Griffes who was fascinated by the exotic, mysterious sound of the French Impressionists.
The world premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff’s Concerto for 2 percussionists, with the Meehan/Perkins Duo, put the audience to its feet! The very challenging Symphony No. 3 by Aaron Copland left an appropriately stirring impression. Kudos to our 2012 brass section. We are tempted to confer a special honor on it.
On top of it, the young artists performed again on Sunday afternoon conducted by Stefan Sanders the annual “Patriotic Concert” featuring pianist Eteri Andjaparidze performing the entertaining Rhapsody in Blue of George Gershwin. Sousa marches, streamers, clapping were as usual joyfully resounding.
Conductor Perry So, from Hong Kong, has started rehearsing the gorgeous music of Richard Strauss (“Till Eulenspiegel” and a suite from “Rosenkavalier”.) The prankish German peasant and the sophisticated Viennese Marshallin are quite an odd coupling but quite entertaining. Mezzo soprano Sasha Cooke will join us within a couple of days. We cannot wait hearing her radiant voice in Mahler’s Ruckert Lieder!
