Reviews

This month the Monterey Symphony launches a new musical era with a new conductor leading its first full subscription season since the onset of the pandemic.

Last season the organization celebrated its 75th anniversary by choosing Jayce Ogren as its new music director, regarded as one of the most innovative and versatile conductors of his generation. Ogren has created a scintillating program of works by Stravinsky, Steven Mackey, Glazunov, Puccini, and Mussorgsky/Ravel to open the 2022-2023 concert cycle on Nov. 19 and 20.

He says, "The program is a celebration, marking the beginning of my relationship with this wonderful orchestra and the return of our full concert series at the Sunset Center. From the orchestral fireworks of Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition' to the dazzling virtuosity of saxophone soloist Timothy McAllister and the funky grooves of Steven Mackey's Turn the Key, it's a program that surprises and inspires throughout."

In a nod to the phoenix-like return of live music to our concert halls, Ogren's inaugural program at Carmel's Sunset Center begins with movements from Stravinsky's Firebird Suite.

The most intriguing piece on Ogren's musical journey is Russian composer Glazunov's saxophone concerto, featuring McAllister as soloist, about whom the conductor says, "I think it is no exaggeration to call him the greatest saxophonist on the planet. He's an extraordinary artist and he knows this piece better than anyone. It's a lovely romantic work for saxophone and string orchestra. A beautiful sonic combination. The saxophone is so vocal and the strings provide this beautiful carpet for the saxophone to rise above."

McAllister has over 50 recordings and 200 world premieres. He has appeared with over 40 of the world's most prominent orchestras and ensembles in over 20 countries. He will join Ogren for the pre-concert talk before each performance.

The saxophone is also used in Ravel's orchestration of Mussorgsky's masterpiece that closes the concert, giving McAllister another moment to shine. Ogren says this suite was a favorite of his when he was in his teens. "Most 16-year-olds were blasting other kinds of music, but I was blasting Copland and Mahler and the Chicago Symphony version of 'Pictures at an Exhibition.' It's one of the first pieces I got to know well when I was in high school. I listened to it over and over and really loved it," he says.

Ogren regards Steven Mackey as one of the finest living composers of our times. He met Mackey when he conducted the premiere of his with the New York Philharmonic in 2013, scored for four electric guitars, five singers and a huge orchestra.

"We immediately hit it off and knew we wanted to work together more. I've wanted to program his music every chance I've gotten …The main melody for his 'Turn the Key' is based on morse code for the letter M for Miami and also M for Monterey felt appropriate." Ogren notes he is turning the key on a new epoch for the Symphony in this first program.

Mackey joins Ogren for both pre-concert lectures. The talks start one hour before the performances and are 30-minutes long.

Throughout the season, Ogren says he wants to bring elements of surprise to the symphony audience with twists and turns that they may not expect. He wants to break out of the traditional mold of an overture, a concerto and a symphony on a program.

"I think that orchestral programs can have more variety and fun and can comfort us but also challenge us. This opening program is kind of a microcosm of what I am hoping to do with the Monterey Symphony in the future. … In this and future seasons, I am trying to bring our audience on a really exciting ride. And I'll hold their hands along the way."

He's looking forward to connecting with audience members and discovering what music they respond to and that inspires them. I encourage you to become subscription ticket holders for the five upcoming programs November through May and to enjoy the vision and musical mastery of this exceptional new conductor.

For tickets and information, see www.montereysymphony.org/ or call 831-646-8511. Monterey Symphony performances take place on Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. at Sunset Center in Carmel.