It’s summer — jazz up:
Two orchestras on stage for CSO + Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Program
John Adams The Rock You Stand On [CSO Co-commission]
Copland Suite from Appalachian Spring
Marsalis Selections from Symphony No. 4 (The Jungle)
Ellington C Jam Blues [Jun 4 Encore]
Adam’s work is a moderately modern, refreshing opener. Much better than some early-season avant garde stuff that baffled me. Especially, Appalachian Spring sounded great. Alsop brought out a great deal of balletic moves from the music. The orchestra, especially precussions, was very responsive and syncopated. The first half was a smooth, compelling performance.
Enters the second half, two orchestras jammed up the stage. In Marsalis’s Jungle Symphony, the orchestra pretty much becomes a big accompaniment to play a loud clanging concerto featuring Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra members as soloist, playing fancy runs in turns. The trumpets sound amazing — penetrating through the space and carry their powerful voice up my seats at the top of the symphony hall. It was very ‘Jungle’ish — perhaps too loud for any nuance to shine out by themselves. But if you’re loud enough, you can make your point.