Soloist Levin, HRO Delights Junior Parents

Dry lectures were exchanged for a lively showcase of orchestral talent in Sanders Theater on the evening of Saturday, Mar. 3, when the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra (HRO) took to the same stage to deliver an impressive performance to the delight of parents and students alike this Junior Parents’ Weekend.

Conducted by Music Director James Yannatos, the program consisted of works by Respighi and Dvorák, as well as Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 24,” featuring soloist Dwight P. Robinson Jr. Professor of Music, Robert D. Levin ’68.

Newly elected HRO President Chrix E. Finne ’07, began the evening by introducing President Emeritus James “Jimbo” F. Collins ’06, and extending a jovial welcome to the junior parents in the audience. A junior himself, Finne made a special shout-out to his own mother, setting the tone for the concert’s family-friendly atmosphere.

Respighi’s “Pines of Rome,” led by assistant conductor S. Andrew “Drew” Schroeder, opened the program with a successful depiction of colorful themes that illustrated vivid scenes of pine groves.

The orchestra admirably captured the spirit of this fresh and innovative piece. Some particularly memorable features included a recording of a singing nightingale played while the violins trilled softly in the background, and the performance of a handful of brass players from the high balcony of the theatre in the march section, which effectively captured the attention of audience members below.

The main attraction of the night was Levin’s rendition of the Mozart “Piano Concerto No. 24.” The performance by Levin, Harvard’s leading expert on Mozart, was an excellent follow-up for anyone who took Literature and Arts B-52: “Mozart” that he taught last semester. His technical and musical skill enabled him to infuse the music with beautiful phrasing and even improvise stunning cadenzas on the spot.

Although there have been numerous classical concerts on campus this year commemorating the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth, Levin truly steals the show in the performance, showcasing his extraordinary gift for making the music of Mozart come alive, especially after the spellbinding cadenza at the end of the first movement.

In addition to making piano concertos look effortless, Levin never failed to ham it up whenever on stage. As an exceptionally captivating performer, he was constantly animated, ensuring that his audience was always entertained. When he was not playing, he casually put his elbow up on the piano and turned his entire body around to face the winds, watching them intently and keeping the audience engaged in the music.

The second half of the concert featured Dvorák’s “Symphony No. 7,” whose brooding and dramatic nature sets it apart from the rest of Dvorák’s symphonies.

The first movement got off to a rocky start, with a few messy entrances and slightly unsynchronized playing by the violins, but as the orchestra moved into the second movement, it began to warm up a bit more to bring out the true character of the music. The rest of the piece was filled with excellent dynamics that enabled the orchestra to become remarkably expressive and convey the grandeur of the Dvorák symphony.

Especially with the lively nature of Levin’s performance, the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra succeeded in presenting a wonderful concert for the junior parents in attendance, giving them a glimpse of the richness that imbues the arts here at Harvard.