Glendale Symphony Opens in Bright, Robust Spirits

The Glendale Symphony has always been an organization of somewhat ambiguous character, an odd mix of grass-roots perspective and high ambition. Born out of the community sing movement in 1923, it still retains a very individual, small-town attitude toward orchestral business, opening leisurely concerts with the national anthem and speeches.

But it is also very professionally staffed, and led with amiably patrician authority by music director Sidney Weiss, former concertmaster of big-time operations such as the Chicago Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, among others. It launched its new three-concert season at the Alex Theatre Friday evening with a robust lesson in orchestral fundamentals.

This year being the 250th anniversary of Bach’s death, Weiss began the program proper with the Second “Brandenburg” Concerto. The roots of orchestral playing lie in this sort of music, and Weiss allowed his full string sections--smallish by symphonic standards--to tackle it in the muscular fashion of a generation ago. Trumpeter David Washburn made the most stylish contribution to the otherwise unexceptional affair, with violinist Sarkis Gyurgchyan, flutist Salpy Kerkonian and oboist Cathy Del Russo the other solidly accomplished soloists.

Mozart followed on the chronologically ordered agenda. His “Linz” Symphony No. 36 emerged cleanly and without fuss, but also without much sparkle or magic except in the blithely athletic Menuetto. The more overtly dramatic gestures of the “Don Giovanni” overture caught the more active interest of Weiss and Co. in matters of dynamics and accent.

This attention to emphatic detail continued in Weiss’ sharply characterized account of the Symphony No. 1 by Beethoven. His forthright interpretation, falling well within expected parameters, was played with vigor and panache. The sound and spirits were bright and the music-making joyfully concentrated.