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Show MONDAY THE THUNDERB1RD Symphony delivers CONCERT REVIEW BY LYNN DENNETT Shouts of "Bravo!" and enthusiastic cheers concluded Wednesday's performance of the Utah Symphony Orchestra held at Cedar High School' auditorium. Conductor Silverstein returned to the podium three times and bowed as applause continued for some time after the concert had ended. The evening, an adjunct to SUSC's Convocation program, began with a classical period piece entitled "Symphony No. 34 in C Major, K.338" by Mozart. The overall mood of the piece was happy and frolicsome, and as could be expected from a group of this caliber, it was very well played. The fast runs in the "Allegro vivace portion of the symphony were professionally executed, adding to the mood. Part of the group sat out of this piece as the arrangement calls for fewer instruments. The Mozart was considered to be the favorite piece of the evening by a number of patrons. Despite a note at the bottom of the program reminding patrons to applaud only after the completion of a symphony, rather than between continued to movements some concert-goer- s applaud evi "'p the group paused. Their caused actions, although Silverstein to grimace at one point. Following the Mozart number, one movement of a period piece by Sibelius was performed, entitled "Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 105," with the full complement of instruments. The piece was dark and moody at the beginning, gradually brightening up like the sunrise of a new day. Occasional dissonant chordal passages gave one the feeling that something ominous lurked just around the corner, and provided a nice contrast to the brightened mood of the piece. Symphony d, Drew delights audience (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) a man who many include the classics The novels His a true as characterize genius. Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. His works haven't always met with public acceptance. The story of Huckleberry Finn, for example, has often been tagged as racial in its context by some elements of society, which has from time to time attempted to remove the book from public schools. Despite his often bitter sarcasm, Twain was "a man who won international acclaim as an author, lecturer, and public celebrity in an age when there were none of the electronic marvels of today like television and radio that can quickly show a person's face to the whole world," said Drew. He went on to say that Twain was loved by people around the world in his day, and that many people can still relate to him because "There are little bits of Mark Twain in all of us." "The purpose of Convocations at SUSC is to advance the academic, and cultural experience of students at SUSC a goal well served by Parker Drew's characterization of American humorist Mark Twain," said Convocation coordinator Lana Johnson. Johnson reminds students that there will be no Convocation this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The program will return with Associate Professor of English James Aton delivering the Faculty Honor Lecture Dec. 1. He'll discuss Maj. John Wesley Powell and cash register dams in the Colorado River Basin. The quarter's program will conclude with Dr. Jean Kilbourne, who, on Dec. 8, will discuss the influence of advertising on alcoholic intake. Kilbourne was named the lecturer of the year by the National Association of College Activities. one of America's most brilliant writers, top-notc- NOVEMBER 21, 1988 PACE 9 concert h members were immediately responsive to the conductor's commands, either with a crescendo or an immediate decrescendo to allow other instruments to be prominent. This piece was my favorite of the evening. Following an intermission, the Symphony played Schumann's "Symphony No. 1 in Maor, Op. 38, 'Spring'." This piece was very bright with occasional harmonic minor scale runs that seemed a little out of place in the primarily major tonality, but added interest to the selection. The movements were hard to distinguish for one not familiar with the piece, as Silverstein hardly paused between them, perhaps to prohibit applause until the symphony was completed. The dynamics went from one extreme to the other, all well controlled by the conductor. Silverstein sometimes resembled the stereotypical, cartoon conductor with grand sweeps of the baton, and other times, standing on tiptoe, as if he were to leap into the midst of the group. This in no way detracted from the performance, but added to the atmosphere of the night, which was described by one patron as "intense." Although the Symphony had undergone a strike recently, it was not at all apparent in the group's playing. Silverstein said the community doesn't understand the cost involved in maintaining a group like the Symphony. Silverstein said that he really enjoys coming to Cedar City with the Symphony. "It is one of the most beautiful places on Cod's Earth. Also, the audience is very appreciative and enthusiastic." Classical music always commands my attention, no matter what happen to be thinking or doing at the time, and Wednesday's performance was no exception. For one night, all else was insignificant, except for the sounds emanating from the stage. I |