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OperaNotes Review
Carnegie Hall
October 6, 2004
By Charlene Frank
Renée Fleming and
Yo-Yo Ma
with the
Philadelphia Orchestra
an evening of Strauss
Carnegie Hall Opening Night Gala
Music Director and Conductor:
Christoph Eschenbach
Soprano:
Renée Fleming
Cello: Yo-Yo
Ma
Violin: David Kim
Viola: Roberto Diaz
Men in tuxedos, women in gowns and diamonds, diamonds, diamonds that were almost as bright as Yo Yo Ma's smile. It was the kind of evening that people imagine when they dream about the big city. High fashion, famous people and music by Richard Stauss in Carnegie Hall.
In 1888 a 24-year old Richard Strauss shocked the prudish Viennese society with his tone poem Don Juan. He shocked them, but they loved it and they loved him. The audience loved it in New York this week too. Over 100 years later music intertwined with passion may be a norm, but it was still unique with the Philadelphia Orchestra led by Christoph Eschenbach.
Renée Fleming was radiant. She performed the well loved "Four Last Songs" which was the reason I was so anxious to be at this fabulous concert. Unfortunately, although she looked beautiful, she was not the highlight of the evening. I was sitting in the balcony, which should not be a problem in a hall that is renowned for superb acoustics as is the Isaac Stern Auditorium in Carnegie Hall. But it was a problem. I could not hear Ms. Fleming's lower notes at all. I could hear only the orchestra. This was a tremendous disappointment. Maybe it was the orchestra, maybe they were simply too loud, or maybe Ms. Fleming simply couldn't reach the balcony. I couldn't help but think, if that was Debra Voigt on that stage, I would be able to hear her. Strauss loved sopranos, which is evident not only in his "Four Last Songs", but throughout most of his music. If he was sitting next to me, he would have been disappointed too.
Don Quixote, the tone poem for cello and orchestra tells the story of the dreaming Don Quixote (Yo-Yo Ma and his cello), his trusty sidekick Sancho Panza (Roberto Diaz and his viola) and their nobel quest to conquer giants and win love. Whether your seat was in the orchestra, the boxes or the balcony, whether you saw windmills or giants, this was the highlight, the thing dreamers dream about when they dream about the big city.