From around the world
Young violinist on the first string
Lawrence A. Johnson | Miami Herald | Feb. 13, 2008
The evening was clearly one for violinists at the Knight Concert Hall with Pinchas Zukerman and Itzhak Perlman in attendance for the performance by the Israel Chamber Orchestra.
Founded in 1965 by Gary Bertini, the 37-member Israel Chamber Orchestra appears to be thriving under music director Gil Shohat. The hectic 13-city U.S tour schedule meant that the Miami stand was the ensemble’s third concert in 24 hours. Under the circumstances, the largely polished, spirited and responsive playing was even more impressive in a complex and generous.
In addition to his conducting, Shohat, 34, is an extraordinarily prolific composer who has written 10 concertos, nine symphonies, three operas and numerous other works. On Tuesday night he was represented by his Symphony of Fire (No. 3).
Cast in a long single movement, the rhapsodic symphony is unerringly well crafted and draws an extensive array of colors from modest forces. The composer elicited a refined, atmospheric performance, with the Israeli players attuned to the symphony’s surging waves and languid sensuality. But, although deftly scored, Shohat’s work is a rather sucrose-rich affair that fails to overcome its heavy debt to Scriabin.
Shohat is clearly a gifted and charismatic podium leader, as shown in a richly idiomatic and spirited rendering of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. The Israeli musicians displayed signs of battle fatigue in the final movement, but, considering the insane tour schedule, the performance was surprisingly accomplished and exciting.
The chamber-orchestra forces inevitably sacrificed a certain amount of ballast, but Shohat made up the balance with his sure pacing, transparent textures and alert dynamic detailing. The conductor consistently pointed the dance-like rhythms with bite and drew an especially poised and atmospheric account of the Allegretto.