Concert Review - Eugene Symphony Night in Vienna

Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor
Jorja Fleezanis, violin

Performance of October 14, 8:00pm at the Hult Center, Eugene, Oregon

he evening began with an energetic, light and dance like Strauss, a wonderful way to begin an evening of an all Austrian program. Conductor Guerrero was almost dancing on stage and literally jumped off the podium at the finish (his energy at times reminiscent of another charismatic conductor, that of Leonard Bernstein). Violinist Jorja Fleezanis played with beautiful intensity in Berg’s violin concerto. She portrayed a tremendous range of expression from singing the highest notes (on her Matteo Goffriller violin made in 1700) to really digging into the instrument in the second movement, all without loosing the intensity and expression this piece requires. The orchestra too echoed beautifully the main motive of the first movement but really illustrated how they could fill the hall with sound in the Bruckner.

Something that one does not see many soloists do is join the orchestra as concertmistress for the remainder of the program, which is just what Ms. Fleezanis did. As concertmistress for the Bruckner she was just as compelling a leader as she was a soloist. The hall was a whirlwind of sound with Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony. Conductor Giancarlo Guerrero crafted long lines and beautifully shaped phrases. His incredible energy on the podium led the orchestra to new heights of sound. This energy even brought the well-trained audience to start clapping at the end of the third movement.

For tickets to Eugene Symphony concerts, call (541) 682-5000 or visit www.eugenesymphony.org

Shaunna Eberhard is a Classical Voice correspondent and a pianist based in Eugene, Oregon