Saturday, May 08, 1999
Pianist displays finesse, charm
BY JANELLE GELFAND
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Helen Huang is such a refined musician, it's easy to forget she's only 16.
Looking very grown up, Miss Huang, who made her debut at age 8 with the Philadelphia Orchestra, was soloist in the Ravel G Major Piano Concerto with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Friday night.
She is a graceful pianist with a light, fluid touch, and she also possesses a strong technique. What is most refreshing, though, is that she is developing her own personality and on Friday, communicated her musical ideas with both charm and finesse.
Miss Huang took liberties in slower passages of the first movement, which were nonetheless very well controlled. Her brilliant sections sparkled. Although she half-stood to get power, her playing was unfortunately covered at times by the orchestra under the baton of music director Jesus Lopez-Cobos.
Balance improved in the other movements, however. Miss Huang brought great tenderness to the slow movement, although one wished for less rubato in the simple theme. English hornist Robert Walters performed an exquisite duet with her, and stayed with her every inch of the way.
The presto finale was bright, clean and brilliant, and the audience of 1,894 rose in appreciation.
The season finale concert opened with the premiere of the winning work (chosen earlier this year) from the CSO's Fourth Young Composers Competition. Brooke Joyce, who graduated from Lawrence University and the Cleveland Institute of Music was inspired by a childhood trip to Wales to write his Ynisyrddn (Welsh for the Isle of Glass).
Scored for large orchestra, the piece displayed Mr. Joyce's ability to create melody and atmosphere.
The 15-minute work opened with a plaintive, angular oboe solo, which later returned in other solo instru ments. Much of the work, though, consisted of building up and subsiding by way of a chromatic scale — not terribly original — and of quiet passages interrupted by fortissimo crashes. When the piece ended with a lovely violin solo (beautifully played by concertmaster Timothy Lees) and a single chime, I wished Mr. Joyce had exploited his gift for melody more. He took two bows.
Mr. Lopez-Cobos concluded with Brahms Symphony No. 4, last heard in Music Hall in 1997. His tempo was inconsistent in the first movement, causing the work to lose momentum and resulting in some muddy counterpoint. Tempos improved by the scherzo and finale, however, where the brass and timpani were excellent.
The CSO recognized three players: Principal trombonist Tony Chipurn is retiring after 42 years and five music directors; violinists James Braid and Harold Byers have performed for 25 years.
The CSO repeats at 8 p.m. today. Tickets: 381-3300.
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