Grin's Students Shine in Pärnu
The “graduation” concert of Leonid Grin’s Master Class took
place, appropriately enough, in a school, the Põhikool Vanalinna (Old Town Primary School) in Pärnu, Estonia, on February 27, 2011.
It was a change of venue, having been moved from historic St. Elisabeth Church because of unavailability for rehearsal (due to competing events at the Pärnu Ice Festival). This may have cut back on attendance, but acoustically and physically, it was a fine space and afforded the students more room to show off their talents.
Participants included Maria Bikova, Diego Garcia, Thomas Heuser, Antoine López, James Lowe, Daisuke Nagamine, Yura Yang and Rachael Young, who took turns conducting the Pärnu City Orchestra in repertoire studied during the seven-day course. It was an attractive program, with Haydn's Symphonies No. 83 and 45 and Stravinsky’s Suite No. 1 and “Danses Concertantes.” It made for a light-hearted and gratifying afternoon, with cause to celebrate for all.
First up was Korean-born Yura Yang in the first two
movements of Haydn’s Symphony No. 83, “La Poule” (“The Hen”). Ms. Yang exercised fine control and delivered
a lovely, flowing Andante. Taking the
baton for the final movements was Diego Garcia.
A native of Colombia, now music director of the Eastman String
Fellowship Orchestra in Rochester, New York, Garcia led with momentum and a
feeling of commitment that communicated well to the orchestra.
Ms. Bikova, a Bulgarian actively conducting in her native
country, Poland and Germany, led Stravinsky’s Suite No. 1 (from his Five Easy
Pieces for piano duet, arranged for chamber orchestra). The character of the work came through nicely
under her baton: gentle in the "Andante,"
spirited in the "Napolitano," brisk and fun-loving in “Espanola,” room-shaking in
“Balalaika” (bass drum).
Bikova was followed by Thomas Heuser, a doctoral candidate (orchestral
conducting) at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music,
currently spending a year in Germany as a Fulbright Scholar. Heuser’s task was the first two movements of
Stravinsky’s “Danses Concertantes” which he conducted not only with his hands and
arms, but through facial expressions, all to fine effect.
James Lowe of Great Britain, already a prizewinner in
international conducting competitions with posts in Edinburgh, including
principal conductor of the Edinburgh Contemporary Music Ensemble and (formerly) associate conductor of the Royal
Scottish National Orchestra, took over in mid-beat (literally) to continue without
a break into “Thème Varié.”
Everywhere in control of the
rhythmically complex music, he communicated a delightful sense of aloofness
with Stravinsky’s cheerful take on classical ballet.
Antoine López, a student at CCM where he leads
several ensembles of his own, wrapped it up with the final “Pas de deux” and “Marche
Conclusion.” A presence on the podium,
he was sweeping and energetic in the first, snappy and full of verve in the
second.
Haydn’s Symphony No.
43 (“La Passione”) got excellent treatment by Rachel Young and Daisuke
Nagamine. Ms. Young, a native of New
Zealand living and conducting in London, compelled attention with her exacting
baton, facial expressions and confident manner, lending considerable spark to
the Allegro di molto second movement. Nagamine,
an experienced conductor from Japan, led without a baton. He demonstrated considerable skill in the use
of his hands, keeping them close to his body much of the time. He was unafraid to make small gestures, expanding
them outward when necessary and communicating facially, as well.
Reception of the concert and applause afterward was warm and sustained as each conductor took a bow and gathered for a group accolade. They called their proud pedagogue, Leonid Grin, to the front to share hugs and bows with them, and they were presented white roses by Academy assistant administrator Yvonne Kool.
Leonid Grin’s Master Course is the winter session of Neeme Järvi’s Summer Conducting Academy, held annually in Pärnu. The next session, to take place concurrently with a two-week Järvi International Summer Festival, is July 25-August 6 in Pärnu. For information, visit www.jarviacademy.ee