In Saturday’s (2/4) Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas), Olin Chism writes, “It’s not often that a new work by a living composer (and a relatively young one at that) is the biggest crowd-pleaser at a symphonic concert, but that was the case in Bass Hall on Friday night when the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presented John B. Hedges’ Fantasia sobre Yma Sumac. Part of the prolonged applause and loud cheers was undoubtedly a response to the brilliant performance of the orchestra’s principal clarinetist, Victoria Luperi, who was the soloist in this quasi-concerto for clarinet and orchestra. But it’s equally certain that much of it was for the composer, who was present and joined Luperi onstage to acknowledge the ovation. The fantasia was inspired by the astonishing voice of Peruvian singer Yma Sumac. … In Hedges’ fantasia, the clarinet stands in for Sumac, and he gives the soloist passages of the sort of virtuosity you would expect, including a substantial cadenza. Luperi breezed through them all, even managing some lyrical statements. Hedges keeps the orchestra busy as well. There are significant passages for piano, harp, marimba and other percussion instruments imparting a range of styles.” The program, conducted by Music Director Miguel Harth-Bedoya, also included works by Prokofiev and Borodin.
Posted February 6, 2012
