“Sometimes Beethoven just hits the spot. His Symphony No. 3 ‘Eroica’ anchored the Albany Symphony’s season opener on Saturday at the Palace Theatre and its majestic and expansive solidity felt right for the occasion and for the times,” writes Joseph Dalton in Tuesday’s (10/12) Times Union (Albany, NY). “The symphony was a tour de force for music director David Alan Miller, who was honored at the start of the concert by mayor Kathy Sheehan for a transformative 30 years in the position…. For all the ambitious initiatives and ancillary events that are today’s ASO, it still comes down to execution of the music and Miller consistently pulls it off and with flair. His interpretation of the ‘Eroica’ carried ample drive and force but also highlighted some well-honed details as moments to savor…. There was a grin on his face during the rollicking finale. [On] the concert’s first half … Jessie Montgomery’s ‘Coincident Dances’ seamlessly blended together episodic hints of various popular forms…. Two movements from Sibelius’ ‘Lemminkainen’ Suite included ‘The Swan of Tuonela’ and beautiful lengthy solos from Grace Shryock on English horn. Her elegant legato lines glided on the surface of the shimmering strings.”
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