BWW Reviews: New Jersey Symphony Performs STRAVINSKY and RIMSKY-KORSAKOV at Bergen PAC

Pétrouchka is an often performed piece that can sometimes feel tired and perfunctory. Along with The Firebird and The Rite of Spring, Stravinsky's other two big ballets from the same period (all of which remarkably flowed from the composer's pen within five years), Petrouchka requires a deft hand at the helm to feel fresh. Luckily, in the hands of Jacques Lacombe and the New Jersey Symphony, a fine fresh take was on the menu. The New Jersey players did a fine job, and even if this music was not their typical fare, Maestro Lacombe managed to bring excitement and subtle inner colors to the surface throughout.

For the most part, Maestro Lacombe chose brisk tempos, most of which were well executed and energetic. One possible exception was the Wet Nurses' Dance near the beginning of the Fourth Tableau. For a few moments at that point it felt like the busyness was bordering on the chaotic - not out of control but not a razor sharp as the rest of the evening's playing. The final Shrovetide Fair scene and the death of Petrouchka were ravishing.

The second half of the program was devoted to another well-worn favorite, Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. The work is overflowing with delightful melodies, gripping drama and gorgeous solo violin parts. Maestro Lacombe took no risks but made no missteps either and the level of detail and exotic flavor that emerged from his players was nothing short of superb. Concertmaster Eric Wyrick emerged as the star of the evening, portraying the voice of Scheherazade through a series of winding, eastern-flavored melodies for solo violin solo, accompanied by a lone harp in the distance.

The sonic balance between soft and loud passages was impressive and the 3rd movement was a highlight of the evening as the string section provided some moments of otherworldly beauty and elegance. The gentle coda at the end of the final movement - intended to be representative of Scheherazade finally winning over the heart of the cranky old Sultan - was simply gorgeous.

The Bergen PAC is not the ideal performance space for an orchestral concert. The orchestra spilled out several rows beyond the proscenium, making for some very interesting acoustics. While the sound was brilliant and crystal clear (at least in the front orchestra where this reviewer was seated), it was also uniformly loud throughout the evening. This may have resulted in some of the softer moments sounding a bit louder and grander than Maestro Lecombe may have intended. In spite of this drawback, the evening was a winner.

One additional item that bares mentioning is the relatively poor turnout for the performance. When the NJ PAC opened its doors in 1997, many Bergen county residents opined the distance, the traffic and the nuisance of getting to Newark for performances. Now they have a wonderful series of world-class performances in their back yard. One can only hope that they begin to give it the support it so richly deserves. Wake up Bergen County!

Peter Danish

Editor in Chief

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