The Fredösphere

Conductor Kenneth Kiesler chose a theme of death and rebirth implicitly in his marriage of Evan Chambers' new song cycle The Old Burying Ground with The Rite of Spring in last night's concert by the University of Michigan Orchestras.  Chambers' premiere was a thrilling experience, with fine performances by soprano Jenifer Larson and Nicholas Phan, the latter with a surprisingly potent tenor voice.  Folk stylings were supplied by Tim Eriksen, whose reedy tones brought the right kind of melancholy to this setting of tombstone epitaphs.  Vocally, he fit right in; visually, he seemed uncomfortable.  Eriksen looked like a man who was still trying to figure out how a folk singer ought to behave on a classical concert stage.  No doubt he'll sort things out by the time they take the show on the road.

At half time the wifeösphere and I realized it would be impossible for us to stay to the end of Le Sacre, so we declared victory and pulled out.  It was a painful decision, and with it I felt the last reserves of my bohemian cred leaking away, but we simply could not expect the family watching our kids to stay up so late.  So we left, with the words of the old spiritual "Ain't got time to be reborn" in our heads.

Last night's concert was a clubby affair, since we sat next to our friends Victor Volkman and his wife Marian, and behind Michelle Mustert and her husband Jen Canlas.  Michelle is the daughter of Merle Mustert, a long-time force to be reckoned with in the choral music scene of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Michelle introduced us to her friend Midori Koga, who accompanied Evan Chambers on piano for the chamber premiere of The Old Burying Ground.

See my prior post for more information about Evan Chambers.

Labels: Composer, vocal