Word: orchestra
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Samuel Barber's Adagio for String Orchestra, the second movement of his String Quartet, Opus 11, which he later reorchestrated, was performed by the entire string section of the H.R.O. This lush work, somewhat trite in its impassioned repetitiousness and a bit too derivative in its handling of thematic material, requires much control of intonation and dynamics. The strings met its challenge well and, by the enormous crescendo near the end, their tone fairly shimmered with intensity...
...attempt to grasp the unprofound programmatic idea that Mr. Cutler seems to have had in mind. Yet, in spite of this immature approach to the subject that Mr. Cutler chose to pursue, the last two sections show that he has a fine control of the resources of an orchestra. The orchestral song based on a death in wartime is stunning and gripping in its controlled hysteria. The H.R.O. and Mr. Senturia acquitted themselves well as they put the often unrelated elements of Mr. Cutler's score into shape. The soloists, Jenneke Barton and Thomas Beveridge, kept on pitch throughout...
...second half of the program was devoted to Manuel De Falla's Nights in the Gardens of Spain with Luise Vosgerchian as piano soloist. This luminous work, which uses the piano more as a part of the orchestra than does a formal concerto, combines evocations of Spain and its festive music with the muted orchestral transparencies of French Impressionist compositions. The orchestra and its marvellously accomplished soloist gave the work a stunning reading. The rapport between them was evident from the first and, throughout both Mr. Senturia and Miss Vosgerchian brought out DeFallas alteration between Latin passion and delicate poetry...
...most radical works on the program were not too successful, it is true but, even here, Mr. Senturia is to be heartily congratulated for his determination not only to present them but to present them as well as he did with an undergraduate orchestra. Those who let the program keep them away not only missed some engaging music but also missed a further demonstration of the H.R.O.'s increasing capabilities...
...Harvard Gilbert and Sullivan Players will present The Gondoliers this spring, with performances scheduled for the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May. A small orchestra may play for the production...