“French Flavoured”: The International Symphony Orchestra with Soloist Denise Djokic
by Brian Hay
The ‘Waverly’ Overture was a good piece to open the show with. It’s short, and it has some quiet sections, but (like almost everything Hector Berlioz wrote) it reaches a booming climax. It makes a good showcase for an orchestra. The International Symphony Orchestra warmed to it quickly. Their reading of it was an inspired one (to say the least). The brass players especially, seemed to relish the opportunity to really cut loose.
The orchestra gave some of their most heartfelt playing to the C Major Symphony by Georges Bizet. They handled the first movement extremely well. The wind playing through the entire symphony was gorgeous. Their work was especially fluid through lyrical passages of the adagio that forms the second movement. Bizet wrote the piece when he was only seventeen but the work shows musical maturity that belies the youthfulness of the composer. The central theme carries a deep sense of melancholia but sounds best when played without falling into soggy sentimentality. The members of the ISO carried this off well. Their playing was impassioned but beautifully restrained.
The finale, the ‘Overture to Zampa’, by Ferdinand David was another piece that was best described as ‘compact with some big parts’. Like the ‘Waverly Overture’ that opened the show it was rich with brass and percussion with quiet melodic sections sprinkled throughout. The name of the piece (or the composer) may not be familiar but ‘Zampa’ is one of those pieces of music that turns up all over the place. It was fun for both the band and the audience and served as a rousing finale for what had turned out to be a very special show.
The highlight of the evening however, was the appearance of the soloist, cellist Denise Djokic. The instant she began to play it was obvious this performance would be something very, very special. This young woman’s playing absolutely vivacious. Her handling of extended passages is fluid and lyrically poetic. Each note is rich with expression and warmth. Her touch is delicate but she doesn’t hesitate to make the instrument growl. In her hands this piece of wood takes on a life of its own. She never used a sheet of music. She knew the music by heart and played from it. She and the members of the orchestra worked well together. Their rendition of the Cello Concerto in A Minor by Camille Saint-Saëns was a sparkling musical dialogue that spanned the length of the concerto. It was the sort of impassioned performance that can raise goose bumps. Seeing her play was worth the price of admission on its own.
But that wasn’t the only thing worth seeing and hearing. Jerome David Summers is doing great things with his orchestra. Their playing isn’t always note perfect. And they aren’t always in perfect time with each other. But they never play without feeling. There’s a huge amount of joy in what they’re doing and it shows. When they fall out of synchronization they recover quickly and forge ahead. They don’t hold back or play as if they’re afraid of a mistake. They play with passion and zeal and push their abilities. It may not be flawless but it’s inspired music making. This ensemble doesn’t lack talent, dedication or leadership. They lack funding and support.
This show should have been sold out. It wasn’t and it’s too bad. It was well worth seeing.
This performance took place at The Imperial Theatre in Sarnia on Saturday February 28, 2009.
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Cellist Denise Djokic: Vivacious Playing
Photo from Artist's Site; Credit Unavailable
International Symphony Orchestra:
Official Site
Denise Djokic:
Official Site
Jerome David Summers:
Official Site
