Consummate Musicianship Informs Greenwich Chamber Players Concert

By Linda Phillips

Graced with a versatile and engaging saxophone guest soloist, The Chamber Players of the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra delighted the audience with an intriguing mix of 12-tone, Romantic, and reimagined and rescored musical works at the opening concert of its 43rd season.

The saxophone, not historically a symphonic instrument, has grown in stature and importance in the repertoire. To enchant and exhilarate the audience, guest soloist Michael Ibrahim not only played virtuosically, but he spoke charmingly about the works to be performed, his own introduction to his instrument, and its history.

Opening with the atonal Anton Webern “Quartet for Violin, Clarinet and Tenor Sax”, a work that the composer himself likened in its freedom to The Brandenburg Concertos of Bach, the players did not save the best for last. Composed in a series of musical dots — akin to pointillism in painting — it was arresting, puzzling, and intensely musical. On its premiere, Arnold Schoenberg called it “fabulous”.

First chairs of the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra Krystof Wytek, Violin, Philp Bashor, clarinet and Andrew Gordon, piano, joined with saxophonist Ibrahim. Melodically splintered, with eruptive notes, the work is in sonata form (sort of) with a recurring F# motif in the saxophone. Written like a physics formula, the bold first movement led to a second movement, a Rondo (sort of) played pizzicato in strings, with some synchrony between saxophone and clarinet (sort of).

In the rendering of the “Brahms Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano”, a late work composed after Brahms emerged from retirement, all the surging emotion of the composer’s entire oeuvre was evident in a work that has been described as “instruments in love with each other.” It was articulated and intensely moving, as played by Messrs. Gordon, Wytek and Bashor.

We held on to our seats for the “Hot-Sonate for Alto Saxophone and Piano” by Erwin Schulhoff, the work evoking the bluesy-jazzy music of the ‘30s and ‘40s, with Mr. Ibrahim perfectly playing the piece’s soul, ably accompanied by Mr. Gordon.

There was no “rackety sax” in the brilliant rescoring of Villa Lobos “Bachianas Brasileiras Suite No. 5”, in which the saxophone took the part originally scored for soprano soloist, blending seamlessly within the ensemble, balanced by Philip Bashor’s bass clarinet, Daniel Miller’s cello, Andrew Gordon’s piano, and Krystof Wytek’s devilishly stroked and strummed violin. The work was heard anew in this scoring for quintet, a wonderful creation of Mr. Wytek’s unceasing musical curiosity. The only cavil: the distance in register between the soprano and original eight cellos was lost in the integrated orchestral arrangement, which found something else entirely. Closing the program was Darius Milhaus’ “Scaramouche”, a charming, tuneful romp in three sections for all six players. The third movement, Briazilieria, was in a Latin rhythm, and Mr. Ibrahim exhorted the audience to clap along, which it enthusiastically did.

The stars? Mr. Ibrahim’s versatility and virtuosity, and Mr. Wytek’s scoring two works anew in fresh arrangements. And we must mention his asking (was it threatening?) to hear the Webern again after each piece? The ensemble settled for a reprise of Milhaud’s “Braziliera” before receiving a standing ovation.

The next performance of The Chamber Players, intimate musical conversations and unexpected journeys, is on Nov. 9 and 10, and will feature works of Prokofiev, Schubert, and Foote. For information and tickets, call 203-637-4725, or go to www.greenwichsymphony.org/chamber-players-greenwich-symphony

(Linda Phillips’ music reviews have won four “Best Column” awards from the CT Press Club, and have been nominated for Pulitzer Prize in criticism. An amateur pianist, she is the author of the novel “To The Highest Bidder.”)

Photo: Greenwich Chamber Players with guest soloist Michael Ibrahim. Credit: Linda Phillips.
*Editor’s note: this review was updated to correct the dates of the November concerts.