New Century Chamber Orchestra closed the old century tonight with a
retrospective in Herbst Theater, opening the concert with a surprising
and inspired choice.

Clearly, selecting three works from the entire century of string literature
is a daunting task, but Schoenberg's 1917 version of "Verklaerte Nacht" is
"obvious" and John Adams' 1978 "Shaker Loops" makes a lot of sense.  The
first work, however, was an old, nearly-forgotten friend, coming at exactly
the right time.

To hear Wallingford Riegger's 1927 "Study in Sonority for 10 Violins" on
the same day with the Met broadcast of "Tristan und Isolde" was a bit
spooky.

Riegger (1885-1961) opened the work with something closely related to
the Tristan chord, and developed it boldly in a manner similar to Wagner's
treatment, but producing a completely different sound in the process.
The work ranges into a varied and fascinating landscape that *was*
daringly "dissonant...  atonal..." to Virgil Thomson (who appreciated
it nevertheless), but sounds simply gorgeous today -- especially when
played with as much verve and commitment as we heard tonight.

The New Century musicians, headed by Krista Bennion Feeney as their new
music director (replacing Stuart Canin, who retired), were on fire all
evening long.  Bracketed by outstanding performances of the Riegger and
Adams works, "Transfigured Night" came across in a stunning combination of
control, passion, dedication and joy.  I don't know of any other chamber
orchestra that accomplished so much in such a short time -- this is only
the eighth season for NCCO.  Imagine where they will be in the century of
their name that hasn't even begun.

Janos Gereben/SF
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