MCGEGAN AND PINE TRAVEL THE WORLD
THE PASADENA SYMPHONY: IN REHEARSAL
Overture In the Italian Style, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 “Turkish”, and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 “Scottish”
BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO
It’s been an exciting week for the Pasadena Symphony as they rehearse for their upcoming concert on Saturday, March 18th 2017 at Ambassador Auditorium. This week they were visited by two guests to be featured in this program. The first is British conductor Nicholas McGegan, who is known worldwide as a baroque and classical specialist; and the second is American violinist Rachel Barton Pine for which the Washington Post wrote about her playing: “[She] displays a power and confidence that puts her in the top echelon.”
Nicholas McGegan and the Pasadena Symphony
The program for this concert is an all-Classical lineup that includes Schubert’s Overture In the Italian Style, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 “Turkish”, and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 “Scottish”. Each of these tuneful works will transport audiences to various countries through the music of these three Classical composers with McGegan, Pine and the Pasadena Symphony leading the way.
The first evening of rehearsal began with Mendelssohn’s impression of Scotland and his visit of the rugged ruins of Holyrood that inspired his Symphony No. 3 “Scottish”. What was immediately striking about Mr. McGegan is that he forgoes a baton using only his bare hands to conduct. What emanates from this facet is an expressive and nuanced style of conducting that fully physicalizes the music at hand.
Nicholas McGegan and the Pasadena Symphony
No detail in the music was left unturned. McGegan took the time to modify the slightest aspects from amount of vibrato in the strings to character of the melodies in the woodwinds. Astute in his instructions, McGegan proves that he’s not without a sense of humor, as he never missed a chance to quip with the orchestra. He even compared sounds in the accompaniment of the fourth movement to Porky the Pig and the Road Runner—see if you can hear those references in this movement. He also pointed out that Mendelssohn had Mary Queen of Scots on mind when writing this symphony. This influence can be most notably heard in a melody of the final movement that was based on his setting of an Ave Maria for eight-part choir and organ from 1830.
Nicholas McGegan and Rachael Barton Pine
Schubert’s Overture In the Italian Style was up next in rehearsal. This overture, written in 1817 by a twenty-year-old Schubert, was inspired by the music of Italian opera composer Gioachino Rossini. The overture has all the delight of a Rossini overture with saucy Schubertian melodies. Clearly one of McGegan’s favorite pieces, he joyfully bobbed side to side during the allegro accompaniment figures and gave elbow jabs towards the violins to accent their jaunty melodic lines. McGegan’s vigor and brio in rehearsal proved contagious. He coaxed smiles out of the orchestra that radiated from string section to the whole orchestra every time they performed this sassy piece.
Rachael Barton Pine arrived the second day of rehearsal for Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 “Turkish”. She took the stage facing the orchestra and Mr. McGegan the first run-through; then faced the empty auditorium the second time. Even with an empty house, Pine shimmered in her very first entrance of the piece. Coming out of a fast exposition by the orchestra, she landed gently Mozart’s slower lyrical melody. The third movement is where “Turkish” music is portrayed by the dark minor key and thumping of the celli with the wood of their bows. Pine gracefully executed the impressions of a “mischievous” nineteen-year-old Mozart—every phrase was played with drive and sheer artistry.
Nicholas McGegan and Rachael Barton Pine.
Join the Pasadena Symphony this Saturday with special guests Nicholas McGegan and Rachael Barton Pine—if this week’s rehearsals are any indication, the performances are bound to be dazzling and full of panache!
More Information and Tickets:
DATE: March 18, 2017
TIME: 2:00pm and 8:00pm at the Ambassador Auditorium
TICKETS: pasadenasymphony-pops.org
