University of Virginia Library

MUSIC

Richmond Symphony Rewarding

By TERI TOWE

In recent years it has
apparently become fashionable
to make deprecatory remarks
about the Richmond
Symphony Orchestra. That
such treatment is not called for
was amply demonstrated. I
think, by the concert given by
Richmond Symphony and
Chorus in University Hall on
Monday evening.

Jacques Houtmann, now in
his second season as Musical
Director of the Richmond
Symphony, is an extremely
talented musician, and, if he
stays in Richmond any length
of time, he may very well mold
the orchestra into one of the
important ones in the country.

The program presented here
was entirely choral. The
concert opened with the
Serenade to Music by Ralph
Vaughan Williams. Written for
Sir Henry Wood's 1938 Jubilee
Concert, the work calls for 16
vocal soloists. Houtmann drew
his soloists from the Richmond
Symphony Chorus.

It may have been because of
where I was sitting, but I had
difficulty hearing some of the
soloists clearly although,
paradoxically, the balance of
the vocal ensemble was quite
good.

The full Richmond
symphony chorus, more than
150 voices, sang the Brahms
German Requiem certainly one
of the great nineteenth century
choral works. The chorus did a
good job throughout this
demanding score, although the
difficulty they had with clean
attacks and releases betrayed
the need for a few more
rehearsals.

The soloists in A German
Requiem left quite a bit to be
desired. The baritone Richard
Rivers, lacked vocal intensity
and focus, and his
interpretation showed little
attempt to convey the meaning
of the text.

The voice of the soprano,
Jeanette Cross, lacked both the
range and the power Brahms
requires in A German
Requiem and she was quite
severely taxed throughout her solo.

It was the Richmond
Symphony however that
carried the evening. Mr.
Houtmann has managed to pull
that orchestra together, and,
with the possible exception of
the horns, which were tentative
in a number of places, the
various divisions have gained
the security that allowed the
conductor to put together
interpretations that were
intelligent and rewarding.