Grins's Master Class Defies Cold and Ice
The small town of Pärnu, Estonia profits greatly from its location on the Baltic Sea. In the summer, it draws visitors from all over Scandinavia and beyond to its white sand beaches and famed health spas.
Coincident with the sun and surf is music. Pärnu was the great Russian violinist David Oistrakh’s summer home and now hosts an annual music festival in his name. Since 2001, it has been the home of Estonian conductor Neeme Järvi’s Summer Academy for Young Conductors, also.
Winter is a different story, but Pärnu now boasts a Winter Ice Festival (Jääfestival, Feb. 18-27) and it, in addition to winter games, skating and ice sculpture, is well-spiced with music, too. An extension of Järvi’s Summer Academy is Leonid Grin’s Master Course for Conductors, presided over by the great Russian/American conductor. The inaugural session of the new course took place Feb. 21-27 in Pärnu. Eight young conductors -- from Japan, Korea, the U.S.A., United Kingdom and Bulgaria -- took part in four days of master classes with Grin and the Pärnu City Orchestra. All conducted at a gala “graduation” concert Feb. 27 in Vanalinna Põhikool.
The
visitors were met by a bout of severe Arctic weather, with temperatures falling
to -30 degrees Celsius at night (-13 during the day) and piles of thick snow
and ice. There was no additional snow
during the week, but walking was treacherous.
Classes were held in the Kontserdimaja (Concert Hall) and in Nooruse Maja and Vanalinna Põhikool, both city schools.
There was a special concert with the Pärnu City Orchestra, prepared by the students and conducted by Grin, Feb. 25 in the Kontserdimaja. Soloists with the 31-member ensemble were pianists Liidia Ilves, Nena Kozjek and Cäcilia Maria Weber from the 6th International Arbo Valdma Winter Master Class for pianists, also held in Pärnu.
It was a genuinely upbeat affair (no pun intended), opening with a spirited performance of Schubert’s Overture in D Major, D. 590, “In the Italian Style.” It was clear from the downbeat – and to the edification of the students in attendance – that Grin knows how to get his message across.
Ilves’ performance of the Mozart Piano Concerto in B-flat Major, K. 450, was marked by refreshingly clear articulation, Grin and the orchestra joining her in a pinpoint entrance after the first movement cadenza. The Pärnu native shaped the opening theme of the slow movement (Andante) with great beauty and delivered a polished reading of the finale (Allegro) where, again, ensemble was secure in every way.
Kozjek, who hails from Slovenia, injected a touch of spice into the predominantly classical program with Astor Piazzolla’s “La Muerte del Angel,” (“Death of an Angel”), catching its vibrant, tango-laced rhythms with flair. Austrian native Weber added froth and sparkle of her own with Saint-Saens’ “Wedding Cake,” Caprice Valse for piano and strings (written as a wedding gift).
The winds of the Pärnu City Orchestra returned for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4. Grin gave a sense of foreboding to the slow introduction, followed by a precise, energetic opening movement (Allegro vivace) and an unabashedly romantic Adagio (a feeling perceptible in the Trio of the scherzo as well). The orchestra musicians met the challenge of the rigorous, perpetual motion finale admirably, despite a fumble or two.
Grin, the orchestra, the soloists and Valdma all enjoyed a well-deserved reception by the audience.