American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall

The Marcus Roberts trio, American Symphony.org
The Marcus Roberts trio, American Symphony.org
Rating
4.6/5

The energy waiting for the American Symphony Orchestra in a packed Carnegie Hall Isaac Stern concert space was tangible as the audience waited for the program to begin. Events in Carnegie Hall are special. With its superb acoustics, beauty, and comfort, it is a bright star in the performance world.

Catherine Russell in Carnegie Hall posted on OpeningNight.Online

Courtesy CatherineRussell.net

Maestro Leon Botstein and the Orchestra arrived to perform the first selection, a work composed by Duke Ellington and performed by him and his Orchestra on its premiere here in 1943. Cinematic in scope, the Black Brown and Beige Suite employs a sumptuous mix of 19th-century symphonic intones and swing band idioms. As expected, we were treated to commanding energetic themes, instrumental soloists as jazz traditional demands, and rich tone colors enhanced by muted brass with generous use of plungers for the distinctive wah-wah sound to imitate human speech (some say it imitates a preacher delivering a sermon). We heard brass flutter-tongue effects, trumpets in their extended register, rhythmic power, a range of saxophones, and solos all around. There were moments of sublime beauty and peace with lush strings, harp, flute, cello solos, and Ellington’s beautiful melodies. Many harmonic ideas and chromatic shifts referenced George Gershwin’s orchestral oeuvre flavored with Ellington’s distinctive styling.

Duke Ellington, 1959. Carnegie Hall, American Symphony Orchestra, Catherine Russell in Carnegie Hall posted on OpeningNight.Online

Duke Ellington, 1959.

Next was a rendition of Ellington’s Satin Doll arranged by Chuck Israels, featuring soloist Catherine Russell, who beautifully expressed the song with her romantic, sparkling, well-placed sound and brilliant artistry.

Ellington’s Harlem provided opportunities for accomplished clarinet, baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, trombone, tympani, drum set, and conga soloists. Arturo Toscanini and the famed NBC Symphony originally commissioned this remarkable composition. It is a panoramic musical tour of Harlem beginning on 110th Street Sunday morning. It utilizes a structural leitmotif to project and connect its picturesque, diverse cultures and charm themes.

The Marcus Roberts trio comprises pianist Marcus Roberts, drummer Jason Marsalis, and bassist Rodney Jordan. Their long artistic association and individual artistry provide a means for extraordinary musical performances and interpretation. They seamlessly link their ensemble and improvisational ideas into a single sound that impeccably conveys their selected lyrical poetry. The Orchestra left for a brief sojourn, and in this setting, the trio performed with vocalist Catherine Russell with Let a Song Go Out of My Heart and Mood Indigo. Marvelous, intimate, emotional, and an opportunity for each to solo.

With the Orchestra, the trio performed two Ellington masterpieces, A New World A-Comin’ in its world premiere arrangement by Maurice Peress, and Three Black Kings, composed by Duke but completed by his son Mercer Ellington.

Marcus Roberts trio at Carnegie Hall Catherine Russell in Carnegie Hall posted on OpeningNight.Online

Courtesy Marcus Roberts Trio Facebook page

Maestro Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra consistently present diverse, important music in marvelous settings. Carnegie Hall has a great history and is considered internationally one of the greatest concert halls. One is immediately impressed by Botstein’s expressive and precise leadership from the podium. The Orchestra is outstanding and able to convey the subtleties and power expressed by Botstein. The program and program notes are excellent, providing an informative background for the beautiful music appearing on stage. Kudos to the many who organized this magnificent event and its many moving parts. The sound system was excellent, a particularly critical feature when employing soloists with a symphonic orchestra.

Bravo to the many soloists, Orchestra, Marcus Roberts Trio, and Catherine Russell. Special thanks to Maestro Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra for honoring the legacy of great American Master Duke Ellington in such an exemplary fashion.

Runtime: two hours.

American Symphony Orchestra

Leon Botstein, Conductor
1330 Avenue of the Americas,
Suite 23A, New York, NY 10019

212.868.9276

info@americansymphony.org

https://americansymphony.org/

For information on the June 5, 2022 concert, click here.

Readers may enjoy our other reviews of The Orchestra Now Celebrates BeethovenArt for the Sake of ArtPaul Taylor and the Orchestra of St. Lukes, and the Punta Gorda Symphony.

American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall

PLEASE COMMENT & SIGN UP

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

More to explore...

The home of Electric Lemon at 33 Hudson Yards, New York NY. Photo by Sora Vernikoff

Electric Lemon at Hudson Yards

The Electric Lemon restaurant is located at the top of the five-star Equinox Hotel in Hudson Yards. The rooftop bar boasts an 8,000-square-foot rooftop garden with a monumental Jaume Plensa sculpture. It overlooks the Hudson River and the city skyline. They possess a wide range of food and drinks, from light bites to seasonal offerings at dinner and rooftop brunch on the weekends. It’s open all year round because of the sleek and expansive dining room and fire-pits on the al fresco terrace.

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Photo from the official trailer. Public Domain

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

I suppose that the title of my blog post, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, is a little misleading because it turned out to be Dinner at Tiffany’s, or more accurately, Dinner at the Blue Box Café. This Cafe honors the romance of the 1961 film starring Audrey Hepburn. Tiffany’s of course was the romantic setting where the lovely Audrey Hepburn went each morning with a pastry and cup of coffee to have breakfast as she window shopped. You might add Breakfast at Tiffany’s to your movie viewing list if you’ve missed it. The song Moon River will have new meaning for you!

Josie de Guzman at The Green Room 42. Photo by Edward Kliszus

Josie de Guzman at The Green Room 42

Two-time Tony Award nominee Josie de Guzman performed her show “Back Where I Started” and enthralled listeners at The Green Room 42.The enchanting and vivacious de Guzman performed a musical biopic of her remarkable stage career. She spoke of the many fellow luminaries with whom she performed and collaborated. The amazing list includes Leonard Bernstein, Nathan Lane, Arthur Laurents, Jerome Robbins, Alan Jay Lerner, and Burton Lane, to name a few.

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x