Well, Anne Rice did another nice thing for her home town. She underwrote
the concert and persuaded LJ to come here. As many of you know, LJ
inspired AR's Gothic novel Violin. Josephowicz has in turn released a CD
called Violin for Anne Rice which contains the Tchaikovsky concerto plus a
bunch of encore pieces.
Josephowicz played with the Louisiana Philharmonic (aka La Phil) under the
direction of Klauspeter Seibel, a wonderful musician and music director of
La Phil and the Frankfurt Opera. The best Eroica I've ever heard came from
him and La Phil, unlikely as it sounds. Anyway, the program consisted of
Beethoven's Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus, the Prokofiev second
violin concerto (a fave of mine), and Bruckner's 3rd (shortest possible
version).
The Beethoven opened as almost other-worldly, with the allegro vigorous
and the rhythms sharply articulated. The Prokofiev, as I say, is one of
my favorite violin concerti (Josephowicz will soon release a CD of both
Prokofievs) - a gorgeous blend of singing and sprightly dancing a la the
composer's Romeo and Juliet ballet. LJ did fine by the allegro bits.
She eagerly attacked each new phrase as if she almost couldn't wait,
but she didn't rush, either. The lyrical sections, however, were fairly
disappointing. Nothing was outright bad, but she definitely does have room
to improve. The tone seemed to suddenly dull without the rhythmic energy.
I've heard other violinists in New Orleans, not nearly so well known, who
just blow her away: the Corey Cerobcek, Dylana Jenson, and, my favorite,
Antje Weithaas, a former East German with a heartbreakingly sweet tone and
long, singing phrases. Obviously, Weithaas needs a better agent.
The week before, Cologne-based cellist Maria Kliegel showed up with her
Stradivari cello, formerly owned by the very musicianly Maurice Gendron.
Razor-sharp intonation, a real personality, and one which suited Haydn (in
C-major) down to the ground: earthy, witty, good-humored. If these people
ever come your way, buy a ticket.
Steve Schwartz
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