Reviews

The Monterey Symphony launched its 2022-2023 subscription season at Carmel's Sunset Center last weekend with a stellar performance led by Jayce Ogren, the orchestra's new music director.

Ogren's program offered patrons an impressive calling card of his musical heart and his vision for the Symphony. "Emergence" was his keyword for the season's opening concert. This title points to the beginning of his tenure with the Symphony. It also speaks to the renaissance of the performing arts happening in our post-lockdown world. And it suggests a bright future for this excellent orchestra and this conductor.

Ogren says of his programming, "There will be surprising twists, new sounds and colors, familiar favorites and dazzling virtuosity."  Exactly so. These words describe his first concert.

Few symbols are as powerful as the mythic phoenix in expressing the nature of renewal. She dies in flames, is born out of her own ashes and rises again to sun-like glory. Ogren began the program with the Berceuse and Finale from Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite," which depicts the resurrection of the phoenix. In six brilliant and moving minutes, we heard Stravinsky's genius, witnessed Ogren's skill and rapport with the musicians and received the music's message of hope and regeneration.

The surprising-twist moment arrived with composer Steven Mackey, who was present for the performance of his work "Turn the Key" that followed the Firebird movements. His music shifted the listeners into an effervescent bath of sounds and rhythms that even included audience participation. Mackey called his score "bingley, bangley, jangley" in a conversation with Ogren. It was fun and intriguing. I liked it.

For dazzling virtuosity, we were treated to the artistry of Timothy McAllister, Ogren's colleague at the Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance, whom he describes as perhaps the greatest saxophonist on the planet. Those are big words. The soloist joined the ensemble for Alexander Glazunov's Saxophone Concerto with string orchestra, a rich romantic score that showcases the glory of this instrument in a classical setting. McAllister played a golden saxophone with a golden tone with such finesse and feeling that I don't expect to hear its like again. Ogren may be right about this artist.

For familiar favorites, Ogren conducted the orchestra in the sweetness of a Puccini intermezzo and the mastery of Ravel's orchestral arrangement of Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition." The conductor revealed in a recent conversation with me that he fell in love with it as a teen and listened to it over and over. This music lives in his bones and sinews. He and the ensemble brought it to life with a synergy and clarity that won me over completely. The last of the "Pictures" in this piece depicts the great gate of Kiev, which in this time of grief for the people of Ukraine made its own powerful impact.

Ogren and the orchestra topped off the concert with an encore, a rousing Slavonic dance by Dvorak.  "Emergence" proved a near-perfect 2 hours of music.

In the words of Lieutenant Columbo, just one more thing. The program book credits Kendall Smith as the lighting designer for the Symphony. This designer is a master of his craft who partnered with the orchestra projecting subtle colors, filters and moods that flowed with and enhanced the music. Mr. Smith is a soloist of light with a sophisticated understanding of his art and its technical skills.

So, dear readers, it might be wise to secure your seats now for the next four concerts of the Symphony season. For tickets and more information call 831-646-8511 or see www.montereysymphony.org.