Pleasing silvery tone from violinist Uri Pianka

By Eileen Wingard

Eileen Wingard
Eileen Wingard

SAN DIEGO–TICO (Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra) once again delivered a pleasing concert January 27, featuring Uri Pianka as soloist. This fine violinist, retired concertmaster of both the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Houston Symphony Orchestra, continues to actively pursue his career as a soloist and chamber music player with recent recordings and performances to his credit.

The second half of the program consisted of Mozart’s Violin Concerto #4. It was a fine vehicle for Pianka’s silvery tone and rhythmic intensity. He especially shone in the cadenzas of  each of the three movements. The orchestra might have been more agile in keeping up with his energetic tempi had the strings been reduced for this accompaniment. He often seemed to want to move ahead with the orchestra a bit stodgy in keeping up with him.

In the first half of the program, the orchestra came through strongly. The seldom-heard Scherzo Cappricioso by Anton Dvorak was a welcome treat, with warm melodies and beautiful harmonies. Conductor David Amos has a special knack for programming lesser-known works by great composers and they are often wonderful revelations. In the Dvorak, there were effective  solos by the woodwinds and brass The string sections seemed well-rehearsed for their challenging passages.

Tchaikowsky’s Francesca di Remini took on new meaning after Amos explained that Francesca was a character from Dante’s Inferno and the swells and turbulence of the orchestra were depicting the fires of Hell. Amos’ introductory remarks are consistently illuminating and give the audiences greater insight into what they are about to hear.

The next TICO concerts March 22 and 24  promise to be exciting events. They will feature the music of Ernest Bloch with the Lithuanian violinist, Raimondas Butvila performing Bloch’s Violin Concerto and the Israeli pianist, Zacharia Plavin, playing the Concerto Symphonique for Piano and Orchestra. TICO will open the program with Bloch’s Concerto Grosso #2.

The following Thursday, a program with narrator and music about Bloch’s life and work will be offered at no extra charge to concert ticket holders.

With two outstanding soloists and the music of Ernest Bloch, one of the greatest composers to write music inspired by Jewish themes, these concerts and the special Thursday program should be a “must” for all music lovers.

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Wingard is a retired violinist with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and a freelance writer.  Your comment may be placed in the space provided below or sent to eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com