Side by Side at Music Hall

Cellist Natania Hoffman

Violinist Benjamin Hoffman

Side by side and sounding terrific, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra presented their annual joint concert Wednesday (April 30) at Music Hall.

   Founded in 1964 by former CSO music director Max Rudolf, the CSYO is a proficient, 91-member ensemble led by CSO assistant conductor Eric Dudley.  Dudley was assisted in leading the blended orchestra (179 musicians in all) by CSO music director Paavo Järvi and CSYO guest conductor Bradley Thachuck.

   All in the spirit of reaching across generations, fostering gratification and pride on the part of the CSO musicians, some of whom are teachers and mentors of CSYO players (and themselves CSYO graduates), and a big dose of inspiration for their young colleagues.

   CSYO concertmaster Benjamin Hoffman, for instance, studies with CSO principal second violinist Gabriel Pegis.  Hoffman, 18, who occupied the concertmaster’s chair right next to CSO concertmaster Timothy Lees, sat just a few feet from Pegis (who sat with the CSYO’s Kayley Wolf).  Hoffman said it felt funny having Lees turn pages for him, but that is orchestra protocol, with the inside player turning pages for his or her stand mate.

   The hour-long concert, performed without intermission, showcased the Youth Orchestra beautifully, with the fourth movement of Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade” and the first movement of Lalo’s Cello Concerto, sandwiched between Weber’s Overture to “Der Freischütz” and Wagner’s Prelude to “Die Meistersinger.” 

   Soloist in the Lalo was cellist Natania Hoffman, 16, winner of the CSYO’s 2007 Concerto Competition.  Natania is Benjamin’s sister.  The siblings are members of a famous musical family.  Their parents are Joel Hoffman, head of the composition department at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and Dorotea Vismara Hoffman, violist, teacher and director of the CCM Summer Program AccentX (coming up in June).  Benjamin and Natania’s uncles, aunt and grandparents are also famous musicians.

   Natania, who wore a fire engine red gown, her long, dark hair plaited down the back, played the Lalo as if it were the most natural thing in the world.  Obviously comfortable in the soloist’s spot, she projected an engaging personality and considerable intensity.  Possessed of a solid technique, she negotiated the instrument fluently, from remarkably sonorous notes on the C (lowest) string, to thumb position high on the A (highest) string, where her warm, solid tone was likewise evident. Seemingly transported now and then (eyes closed), she nevertheless worked closely with Dudley -- and also her brother, whom she shot an attentive glance once in a while.

    Natania, who turned 16 April 3, topped off her performance with a handshake and a big smile for conductor and concertmaster, a gracious bow and a encore, “Besame mucho” (written, interestingly enough, by Consuelo Velazquez just before her 16^th birthday).

   Although Benjamin Hoffman has performed concertos with the CSYO twice, Wednesday’s concert was a solo op for him, too.  “Scheherazade,” which is based on the “1001 Nights,” uses the solo violin to represent Scheherazade.  Led with precision and muscle by Thachuck, a former CSO conducting assistant now associate conductor of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, the fourth movement -- “The Festival at Baghdad,” “The Sea” and “The Ship Goes to Pieces on a Rock” – got an exciting performance.  Hoffman wove his violin through the bazaars, waves and storm-tossed sea with a real narrative sense.  The character of the queen who wins over her murderous husband with 1001 tales, shone through, in frisky double stops and leaps and with pristine beauty at the end, where Scheherazade coaxes her thoroughly pacified spouse to sleep in silvery tones, capped by a long held high E.  Perfectly postured on the edge of his seat, Hoffman led and cued his section like a thoroughly trained chamber musician (which he is).

   Dudley, who is an inspiring conductor, has committed himself fully and creatively to the CSYO, which he has led for three years.  Hearing and watching the CSYO strings lining the front of the stage revealed a high level of accomplishment, an impression that was ratified by the winds and brass paired with their CSO counterparts in the body of the orchestra.  Järvi had but to step to the podium, raise his baton and enjoy the fruits of Cincinnati’s considerable musical culture.  He pumped juice into the two orchestras, rewarding them with a big smile on the crest of Wagner’s august Prelude (return of the “Meistersinger” theme). 

   In attendance at the concert were proud parents, teachers and delegations from area schools. And, yes, a standing ovation was in order.