By Eileen Wingard
SAN DIEGO — Continuing this season’s theme of playing the 5th symphonies of famous composers to honor of the orchestra’s 50th anniversary, the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra (TICO) tackled Schostakovich’s 5th Symphony at their April 14 and 16 concerts at Tifereth Israel Synagogue.
If that were not challenging enough, Conductor David Amos, paired it with Beethoven’s 5th Piano Concerto, the “Emperor,” performed by Pianist Ines Irawati.
Following some remarks and illustrated excerpts from each of the four movements, the orchestra launched into Schostakovich’s monumental work. The serious first movement opened with stabbing calls from strings and winds and dissonant leaps, followed by diabolical, mysterious tremolo passages.
The second movement captured the jocular Scherzo spirit. Co-concertmaster Sarah Price-Keating performed her solos with security and fine intonation.
The Adagio movement’s melancholic undertones were conveyed by the Strings and there were some well-executed pizzicato passages. It is reported that Soviet audiences wept when they listened to this movement. The brass and percussion unleashed their fury with the last movement, triumphant, yet perhaps concealing tears beneath.
TICO, with half the number of violins as a professional symphony orchestra, managed to present a convincing reading of this 45-minute work. The strings, winds, brass and percussion were all strong. There were tender moments as Schostakovitch contrasted full orchestra bombast with chamber music tenderness. His great orchestration skills were obvious throughout and his sardonic humor came through.
Because Schostakovich was reprimanded by Stalin for his recent opera, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, whose expressionistic intensity and brutal narrative offended the Soviet leader, the composer needed to get back into political favor for the safety of himself and his family and make this work more pleasing for the masses. Fortunately, this symphony pleased Stalin and Shostakovitch and his immediate family were able to remain in the Soviet Union relatively unscathed.
After intermission, Bryce Newall took his place as Co-concertmaster of TICO as soloist Ines Irawati entered, looking lovely in a floral printed cap-sleeved gown. Her delicate beauty was in contrast to her fiery musical temperament as she plunged into the concerto. Her flawless runs and technical prowess compare with the best concert pianists. Her attacks and releases were crisp and clean and she played with bold expressiveness and virtuosity.
My only wish might have been that the little music box theme in the first movement be played more ethereally. But that is a matter of taste and interpretation. The orchestra managed to keep up and support Irawati in a performance that brought the audience to its feet for a standing ovation.
Because of his 50 years of dedication as the Founder, Music Director and Conductor of TICO, David Amos was awarded a beautiful plaque by the TICO Committee, honoring his years of outstanding service.
The next TICO concert will be Sunday, June 16, 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday, June 18, 7:30 p.m. at Tifereth Israel Synagogue and feature Schubert’s 5th Symphony as well as Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite and Prokoffiev’s Overture on Hebrew Themes.
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Eileen Wingard is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com