The Baton of a Prestigious Conductor

 Music Critic-I J.H. Desiderio

 

MADE IN THE USA

(concert title)

 

Concert of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Montevideo. Director: Stanley DeRusha. Soloist: Nybya Marino (piano). Concert  Hall: Atrio Municipal

 

The concert was a concert of pleasing surprises, like the musicians of the orchestra applauding the guest conductor, Stanley DeRusha, in the middle of the program. It was easy to see what had happened. Also it was easy  to preserve what occurred. It is not unusual that a work of Gershwin is played here and no one was surprised at the brilliance and splendor of Nibya Marino in the Rhapsody in Blue. But what was exciting to feel was the power, the swing, and the balance of the melodies in this creation of Gershwin that our pianist played with total mastery. Reinforced in the solidity of the cadenzas, and the togetherness in total harmony with the sure direction of the young maestro, the orchestra responded with enthusiasm and solvency.

 

Stanley DeRusha, director (resident conductor) of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and of the orchestral activities at Butler University, has been in front of various North American orchestras and various European groups. From the robust Overture of Candide of Leonard Bernstein, he demonstrated great command of the score, his expressivity and fluidity communicated to the musicians. I can only assume that the rehearsals were exceptional because after the intermission the instrumentalists instead of playing stood up and applauded vigorously striking their instruments, a salute shared by the public.

 

The fiesta continued with the music of Morton Gould reflecting views, themes folkloric and martial of great impact in American Salute. The main course was a work of great difficulty for any orchestra that does not have it in its normal repertory. Appalachian Spring has very few local antecedents, I remember that the creator  Aaron Copland conducted his work with the Ossodre (Orchestra of the Sodre) in 1947 and that it was repeated in 1956 under the direction of Juan Protasi.

 

HISTORY. Appalachian Spring, created for ballet, reflecting the scenes, popular parties, moments of dreams and religious or patriotic hymns, combines the musical themes based on folkloric roots with forms of composition elaborated academically. It is one of Copland’s most famous works and his symphonic version, re-orchestrated, is a demonstration of the style of “authentic north American music”.

 

The execution of the Philharmonic rose to a great height, especially in the solo work of various members of the orchestra, a great honor realized by the concertmaster Mauricio Kleinierer. The triumph was the result of the powerful conducting of Stanley DeRusha, a maestro .

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