Music Reviews : Youth Symphony Plays Strauss and Korngold

Mehli Mehta conducted the American Youth Symphony in Royce Hall at UCLA on Sunday night in a program that scaled Alpine heights. Their performance of Richard Strauss’ “Alpine” Symphony proved that youth and its inherent energy and stamina are requisite ingredients for this undertaking.

Only the opening “Night” section daunted the 100-plus musicians; this was detectable in cautious attacks and wayward intonation. But as soon as “Sunrise” blazed through the auditorium the orchestra relaxed and proceeded to meet one Straussian challenge after another.

The mammoth piece often founders in less-experienced hands, but under Mehta’s assured direction the whole was indeed greater than the sum of its parts. While even the most fervent Strauss lover may confess that the composition does not rank high compared to the earlier tone poems, few pieces could possibly offer as many mountains to climb for a training ensemble.

All of the young players deserve high praise for their efforts, but principal horn player Dorian Marks and principal trumpeter Patrick Kunkee earned a special mention. If the work survives for any reason it is as an orchestral tour de force , and on those terms the orchestra’s performance was brilliantly executed.

The opening work was the infrequently heard Violin Concerto by Wolfgang Korngold. Stanley Plummer, essaying the solo part from the printed music, demonstrated impressive technique in many passages. Occasionally inaccurate pitch, especially in the highest range of the instrument, and an insistently fast vibrato that verged on the annoying marred the total effect of the work, however.

Plummer managed to sustain excitement only in the scherzo-like finale. Mehta and his ensemble provided all the stylish and supportive accompaniment one could ask.