Review: 3 young artists shine with TSO
By SALLY VALLONGO
BLADE STAFF WRITER
White-shirted arm draped around the sloping shoulders of his big contrabass as if it were an old friend - and really, isn't that what it is? - young bassist Jon Hammonds drew out warm melodies and fingered lively double-stop arpeggios in his debut with the Toledo Symphony yesterday afternoon.
This Peristyle concert, a finale for the season's Sunday Family Classics, was all about young talent juxtaposed with the seasoned skills of professional musicians.
Hammonds, a recent high school graduate, won the right to showcase his progress playing the first movement of Koussevitsky's Double Bass Concerto, Op. 3 at the same rigorous audition where his solo comrades - pianist Daniel Park and flutist Andrew Bova - also were winners.
Under the vigilant eye of resident conductor Chelsea Tipton II, Hammonds dug into his hefty instrument, holding his own musically and dynamically with the big orchestra accompanying him.
As Tipton told the audience - sparse in number but highly enthusiastic - "this is a great educational opportunity for these students, especially the speed at which concerts are prepared in professional orchestras."
Never mind that all three young musicians had invested years of practice learning their works. Professional standards dictated a single rehearsal yesterday morning for the entire event.
That all rose boldly and capably to the occasion speaks volumes about their own talent and diligence as well as the insight and strength of the teachers who guided them.
As Bova sailed into Cecile Chaminade's lyrical but very technical Concertino, his former teacher, principal flutist Joel Tse, was accompanying this player, now a Carnegie-Mellon University student.
Assistant principal bass Barton Dunning taught Hammonds, who will continue music studies at the University of Michigan this fall, along with Park.
The pianist's proud father was setting up a videocam before the concert to capture his performance of Rachmaninoff's demanding Piano Concerto No. 2, the Moderato movement.
Park's youthful appearance and onstage diffidence gave way to mature, accurate, and confident playing from the first booming chords of the concerto to the powerful ending.
Bookending the hour-long performance, Tipton and the pros began with high energy in "Hoedown" from Copland's Rodeo, and wrapped up the afternoon with Kodaly's brilliant Dances of Galanta, featuring fine clarinet, trumpet, horn, and flute solos.
In a brief ceremony before the final work, Hammonds, Bova, and Park received an honorarium for their appearances, courtesy of the Toledo Symphony League.
It sponsors the annual competition along with other community groups.
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Contact Sally Vallongo at: svallongo@theblade.com.
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