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Adam Flatt And the DYAO
Contributed by: Robin McNeil on 4/28/2008

Sunday, April 27, was Adam Flatt's last performance with the Denver Young Artists Orchestra. It was a memorable performance from many points of view. The programming was, as usual, excellent and difficult. The DYAO opened the concert with the Richard Strauss' "Dance of the Seven Veils" from his Opera Salome. This is an opera in one act which Strauss wrote based on a German translation of the French play Salome by Oscar Wilde (the translation was done by Hedwig Lachmann). It was first performed in 1905, and created quite a sensation because of several of the scenes contained, one of which is her famous dance. The music is very exotic and typical Strauss because of its use of brass and strings. I shouldn't wonder that it was very difficult for the DYAO only because these are young musicians, some of which are not yet virtuosos. Strauss has always placed a heavy demand on even advanced orchestra members. But the DYAO came through with flying colors. This was really a fine performance due to the vitality and solidity of the rhythms.

Next on the program was the Clarinet Concerto Nr. 2, Opus 115, by the English composer Malcolm Arnold. This Concerto was written by Arnold (1921-2006) for Benny Goodman and finished in 1974. As a matter of fact, the piece was premiered here in Denver by the Denver Symphony Orchestra on August 17, 1974, at Red Rocks, with Benny Goodman as the soloist.

The soloist at yesterday's concert was Ian Buckspan, and with the performance he gave, one has to imagine that Arnold, no matter where he may be, was jumping up and down with joy. Buckspan, who is co-principal clarinet with the DYAO, is already a solid performer and outstanding musician. The first movement of this Concerto is marked allegro vivace, and Buckspan has the technique to do this piece justice. His attacks were unbelievably sharp, his rhythms very solid, his tone excellent, and his pitch was always right on with no squeaks whatsoever. His glissandos (recalling the clarinetist with the old Paul Whiteman Orchestra) were smooth as silk. The slow movement was warm and mellifluous to the point of being haunting. The orchestras unison climax with the horns cutting through followed by a solo flute with a recapitulation of the melody, was incredibly beautiful and a good accounting of how improved this orchestra has become under Adam Flatt's direction. The third movement of this Concerto was just downright rowdy, and it was very clear that Buckspan was truly enjoying himself and wallowing in his ability to play the clarinet. It was also very clear that the orchestra enjoyed having him as the soloist. Even though this Concerto is a composed piece, obviously, they brought to the performance an incredible sense of spontaneity, so that it seemed to be a giant jam session. One can only hope that Buckspan, who is graduating this year, will only go to a good school such as Indiana University or Juilliard, where he can be surrounded by music and have the teachers that he deserves.

After the intermission, the DYAO gave the world premiere of a piece entitled, Prime Meridian, written by one of its own members, Zoe Aqua. Miss Aqua was the DYAO Chamber Composition Competition winner for 2007-2008. She had the support and instruction of Belinda Reynolds who is the composer in residence with the DYAO. The excellence of Aqua's piece belies the fact that she is a young composer who is graduating this year at the age of 18. Prime Meridian is a sextet for flute, two violins, viola, cello, and bass. It was a pleasant surprise to hear how well written this piece was for each instrument. Miss Aqua obviously has a fine ear not only for instrumentation, but for the harmonies which she used. It would be very interesting to have a look at the score, because the harmony seemed to be almost modal since the piece was definitely tonal, but without the usual chord functions. Make no mistake about it, this was not the usual teenage composition. Certainly the instruction of Belinda Reynolds cannot be discounted, however, neither can the obvious gift possessed by the young Zoe Aqua.

The final piece on this program was Dvorak's Symphony Nr. 7. It was a relief to hear some Dvorak and it was also a relief that it was not the New World Symphony. As I have said many times, everyone knows who Dvorak is because of the New World Symphony, but he remains a very underappreciated composer. In spite of a small warble on the very first to note, the DYAO gave another fine performance of a difficult work. The strings have improved in this orchestra a great deal in just the last year or two, and the woodwinds really sounded excellent. What the orchestra communicated in this Symphony was an amazing commitment to the music itself - there was no halfhearted playing in this piece (or any piece on the program, for that matter). Attacks were together, releases were together, the strings played in tune and were in tune with each other. And really, that applies to the whole orchestra. Adam Flatt has made this orchestra a solid and cohesive unit whose members look to him with confidence and admiration.

This concert was Adam Flatt's last appearance with the DYAO as its conductor. His impact is not limited to just improving this orchestra - it has been communitywide. One of the problems today is attracting the interest of young people to good music. Obviously, all of the orchestra members in the DYAO are interested in what serious music has to offer, but the influence that Adam Flatt has had with his success, not only extends to the orchestra, but to be friends of all of the orchestra members. There were so many friends of orchestra members in the audience. I am quite sure that many of them came simply to hear their acquaintances play, but how many of them came away from this concert with the desire to hear more of this music? How many of them realize a stronger appeal that this music can have in comparison to the popular music of today? Many people and critics have said that "classical" music is dying out, and they are concerned with the difficulties of handing a true art form to a new and younger generation. The DYAO is a very good answer to this problem, as well as, all of the other youth orchestras in this state and in this country. This orchestra, under the direction of Adam Flatt, has proven to the young people in the audience and their parents, that serious music can awaken a valid and exciting response in young people. Adam Flatt has exhibited a profound dedication to this orchestra. It is also clear, that the Board and its President, Paul Keebler, and its Executive Director, Christopher Silberman, have an enlightened view of what their responsibilities, and the board responsibilities are. It is disappointing that Adam Flatt is leaving, but it is also a very happy occasion when we realize that he has had such a profound effect in training these young musicians to be so remarkably successful. This community owes him and the DYAO our undying gratitude and respect.


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Robin McNeil

Littleton , CO

Robin McNeil has posted 698 stories and 0 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. Robin McNeil 's average story rating is 5.
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