Lasting Impressions by T. Stephen Wager
Isabel Chen Dazzles in Young Person’s Competition Debut
Fenimore Chamber Orchestra presented its fourth concert of the season and with beautiful circumstances. Under their auspices, Isabel Chen was presented as the historic first laureate of the national Young Persons’ Concerto Competition. According to “The Freeman’s Journal,” out of 22 entrants from nine states, Chen was the clear winner for her ability and artistry.
On Saturday afternoon, March 15, she performed Mozart’s Concerto for Orchestra and Violin No. 3 in G major, K. 216. What can one say when presented with someone so possessed of true talent and superb technique for one so young?
She is currently a student at the world-famous Eastman School of Music. Her allegros had a brilliant and propulsive gait that brought sparkle to the music, but never for merely technical bravado. The second movement adagio was the real test. This is a moment in Mozart’s music that is so transcending it can easily confound any true artist. Chen was certainly up to the challenge. Dense, yet fleet, tone was exactly what is needed at this moment.
Chen received an enormous ovation from the capacity crowd and was presented with a huge bouquet of flowers along with her prize, a very touching moment, indeed. She rewarded the lengthy ovation given her with a short solo piece by J.S. Bach.
Tribute must be paid to Fenimore Chamber Orchestra for its foresight and willingness to discover and help nurture the next generation of true musical artists. Tribute was also paid to Chen’s teacher at Eastman, Robin Scott. We look eagerly forward to the next competition.
The opening work on the concert was an arrangement of selections from L’Amant anonime by
Joseph Bologne, a contemporary of Mozart, celebrated in his day as a Renaissance man and, on his death, began his journey to utter oblivion. Maestro Maciej Żółtowski put together an arrangement of what one assumes are the best pieces from the opera and the result was something of wonderful delight that one can’t help thinking that posterity has indeed lost a great deal. It is gratifying to note, however, that today Bologne’s music is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance.
Mozart’s beloved and early Symphony 29 in A major, K. 201 brought this delightful concert to a close. It is by this time useless to mention the merits of Maestro Żółtowski and his ability to shape a superb rendition of a symphony that is, if not the most popular, at least well-known enough to be in the minds of music lovers. As is becoming customary at these concerts, the audience offered a prolonged ovation in thanks for such a beautiful orchestral performance.
T. Stephen Wager is a regular contributor to “The Freemans’ Journal” and “Hometown Oneonta.”
