Mark Fewer
violin
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Fewer stuns audience with rich, warm performance
February 23, 2010, 12:00 am
Fewer stuns audience with rich, warm performance
Posted By Jack Evans
Feburary 17, 2010
Over many years, the Quinte Symphony has performed with dozens
of guest artists for their regular concerts — soloists,
ensembles and large groups. But Sunday's concert in Bridge
Street Church was a rare event indeed.
Guest violinist Mark Fewer stunned the audience with his rich,
warm performance of the Bruch violin concerto, then slammed them
with a truly rare set of encores.
To stress how rare it is, this longtime fan has witnessed many
concerts. An encore by a vocal soloist has occurred very
occasionally, but by an instrumental soloist, Sunday's
"happening" may well be a first.
Energetic and precise, with a strong sense of phrasing, Fewer
got first class, balanced support from the Quinte Symphony under
the baton of his longtime friend Gordon Craig. It is fair to say
that conductor, orchestra and soloists "hit it off" in this
rewarding afternoon of music.
The program opened with a spirited and tuneful overture, that
for his opera, "Fidelio" by Beethoven. This was one of
Beethoven's lighter touches musically and was much enjoyed by a
substantial but plenty-of-room-for-more audience.
I have already talked about the violin concerto, but should add
that Fewer's performance inspired an immediate and enthusiastic
standing ovation. That, in turn, led to his playing two brief
encores in some of the other genres in which Fewer has a strong
reputation. A jazzy version of "Our Love is Here To Stay" by
Gershwin as a nod to the Valentine Day theme, and some
toe-tapping down-east fiddle music.
One could feast on adjectives for the closing Symphony No. 2 in
B minor by the Russian romantic composer Alexander Borodin
remains enshrined in eternity for his music compositions, but
his day job, as Quinte Symphony cellist Linda Minty noted, was a
professor of organic chemistry at the St. Petersburg Military
Academy of Science. How's that for a career dichotomy?
With four melodious movements, this work was a challenge to the
orchestra in terms of musicality but especially rhythm. It
features typically Russian-sounding musical themes, coupled with
lush and stimulating orchestrations spread over four movements.
NOTES: Red hearts adorned music stands and even instruments for
this Valentine Day concert.
• Maestro Gordon Craig gave a special promotion for the
orchestra's annual "pops" concert on April 11 at 2:30 in Bridge
Street Church, called "a night in Vienna" and featuring the
great waltzes and songs of the Viennese school, showcasing local
soprano Elizabeth McDonald, plus Bruce Kelly, baritone and Tim
Stiff, tenor.
• Orchestra Board secretary Mary Lynne-Morgan reminded the
audience that the orchestra will receive a portion of each
ticket sold for The Trentones Barbershop Chorus annual show on
May 1 in The Empire Theatre.
• The continuing and perhaps even slightly increasing
sprinkling of young people in the audience is encouraging, as
well as support by the local business community through
sponsorships.
• May 14 starting at 6:30 p.m. in Occasions by the Bay at
Bayside is a fundraiser for the orchestra featuring food, fun,
complimentary wine and a silent auction of a large number of
Muskoka chairs hand-painted by local artists.
The orchestra's final concert for this season is Saturday
evening, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Bridge Street Church featuring
Quinte area native and former Bridge Street musician William
Maddox.
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