MSO: David's Perfect 10

On Saturday September 20^th I attended the Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s (MSO) performance of “David’s Perfect 10”. This evening there was a guest violinist, Juilliard grad Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg—whose performance was nothing short of show-stopping! She strode on stage beaming and utterly confident in her abilities—I could tell her performance was going to be standing-o worthy because of her pants. I know this sounds strange, but her black and white striped and shimmery pants were so ridiculous-looking that I assumed she must be so good on violin that her skill would distract the audience from her unconventional choice of attire. This proved to be true! She and the MSO’s performance of Piazolla’s “Four Seasons of Buenos Aires” was an aural sensation. Some of my friends even commented that “halfway through we decided it was ok she wearing those pants”! Salerno-Sonnenberg put on a theatrical as well as a musical performance by swaying to the pulse of the music, while simultaneously dazzling everyone with her effortless runs on the violin.

The rest of the program paled in comparison. I was particularly confused by the placement of Ravel’s “Bolero” after Piazollo’s “Four Seaons” because “Bolero” is repetitive and a bit grating on the nerves. It does not implement any virtuosic solos nor innovative melodies. It’s the same motive over and over again. I felt that the best way to send off the audience is to leave them inspired and in high spirits—exactly how everyone felt after Sonnenberg’s spell-binding performance!

- Brigid Hannon

For a schedule of what, when and where Nadja performs next visit:

www.nadjasalernosonnenberg.com/concerts.html

For more information about the MSO’s upcoming concerts visit:

www.memphissymphony.org

Visiting voice professor: Stephen Smith

On Thursday September 5th I attended a vocal performance concert in which a visiting voice professor from Middle Tennessee State University, Stephen Smith and accompanist Lynn Rice-See performed a variety of “arias and art songs”. His selections included “Sonnets of Petrarch” by Franz Liszt, “Nessun Dorma” from Giacomo Puccini’s opera, Turnadot, and songs by Richard Hundley and Richard Strauss—to name a few. My favorites by far were “Nessun Dorma” and all of his Strauss songs. He sung the Puccini aria with such spirit and compassion. When he hit and sustained the highest note in the piece the resonance and tone was so beautiful and full that it gave me goose bumps! Likewise, I could tell that he felt most connected and passionate about his Strauss selections because of his added animation and careful phrasing of each song. It’s hard to explain, but as a singer I sensed that he had an even higher regard and deeper appreciation for these songs than any of the other songs performed. My beliefs were confirmed when I attended his master class the following day because he confided to us that he did in fact like his Strauss selections the most out of the concert repertoire! The rest of his pieces were performed well but did not inspire or affect me in the same way his delivery of the “Nessun Dorma” and the Strauss songs did.
- Brigid Hannon

Clough-Hanson Gallery at Rhodes

On Wednesday September 24, I decided it was time to see the fist exhibit this semester for the Clough-Hanson Gallery. I had seen flyers around campus for the Memphis World exhibit, so I knew that there would be old photos taken from the Memphis World newspaper. What I did not expect was the flood of emotion that came from seeing these photographs. MEDGAR EVERS’ GRIEVING FAMILY that appeared in Memphis World on June 22, 1963 was the most moving photo for me. The photograph shows Evers’ wife, two children, and brother seated at the funeral. The raw emotion on their faces nearly had me in tears as well. That such a good man was killed and his family made to suffer in grief tore me up. That photograph really is worth a thousand words. Another favorite of mine, SEQUIN CLUB MEMBERS BRILLIANT FORMAL WITH FRENCH THEME, taken by Hooks Brothers Photography, showcases young women dressed for a dance. The dresses and smiles the women wear really caught my eye. The fact that all of the people in the photos are real people who led real lives at that time really resonates. The photograph topics vary a lot, so you get an entire cross-section of African American life from 1931 through 1973. In total, the Clough-Hanson Gallery showcases nineteen photographs while the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art hosts the remaining two hundred and three. I highly recommend that everyone go to this exhibition and get a taste of our city’s history. I think you will all find it more than worth your time.

- Leah Bachmeyer