Word: silverstein
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...world-class orchestra that has been performing for a little more than three decades, the Berlin Symphony was directed on Sunday by Joseph Silverstein, who currently heads the Utah Symphony. An unusually liberal expression of enthusiasm in the conductor was immediately apparent; his smiles were a welcome divergence from the stoic grimaces of most highly-acclaimed conductors. Also absent was any indication of restraint within the orchestra; the woodwinds leapt directly into Brahms' Variations on a theme by Haydn only a few moments after Silverstein took his position at the front of the stage...
...oboe, clarinet, flute and bassoon players did receive the spotlight in most of the theme's airy permutations, the constant alteration of the string players' style-from pizzicato to spiccato to longer, lyrical bowstrokes--carried the listener through the eight variations and finale, all executed with swift precision under Silverstein's direction...
...with trilling ornamentation and a robust tone, the Berlin Symphony Orchestra lost none of the momentum it received with Derek Han's performance; even the more placid Larghetto was imbued with the anticipation of motion and activity to be delivered in ensuing Scherzo. At the piece's conclusion, Joseph Silverstein returned three times to receive the praise of his listeners, a handful of whom stood to applaud the orchestra and its smiling conductor...
Unfortunately, a handful of listeners also left the hall at this point, perhaps in hopes of avoiding catastrophic parking conditions at the conservatory. Perhaps Joseph Silverstein's smiles hinted at the surprise, but no one seemed to expect the conductor to return a fourth time, as indicated by the donning of coats across the balcony and mezzanine. Silverstein did return a fourth time, though, and with the same vigor he exhibited almost two hours earlier at the concert's commencement, led his group into an encore performance of Beethoven's Egmont Overture. The overture acted as the perfect capstone...
They may not be The Peking Acrobats or The Chieftains--other names on the diverse BankBoston Celebrity Series roster--but they can certainly surprise and entertain an audience, which is exactly what Joseph Silverstein, Derek Han and the Berlin Symphony Orchestra accomplished by tossing in a wholly unexpected encore performance. They may not draw the types of listeners who normally request encores of the performers, but orchestras--especially those with unfailing energy like that of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra--should have every right to be as impulsive as they wish...