Now that live performances are opening, it’s nice to see concert promotions and subsequent reviews appearing in the news, social media, and other platforms.
This past year has been a tough one as COVID-19 restrictions have left all musicians (including composers) with far fewer performances and opportunities than previous years. My calendar on this website is still noticeably empty, with a few notices of upcoming performances scattered around. This is also a big change from previous years.
So I am grateful to receive any notice I can of performances, including this review of what appears to be a spectacular performance of my Duo Sonata by Matt Rupert and Robert Beard from the Echo Chamber Orchestra:
Gregory Wanamaker’s (Duo) Sonata for Clarinet and Tenor (sic) Saxophone (2002), performed by Matt Rupert, clarinet, and Robert Beard, saxophone, followed. The composition has four movements but just two were performed: Arrival and Departure. Here the composer’s intent seemed to explore similarities between the sax and clarinet, which are rarely paired. That’s the surface, but a great deal goes on beneath the surface of his exploration. The sonata is quite popular and has been performed over 500 times and is featured on five recordings. At once duet and duel, it evokes the motion, traffic-light synchronization, and near-fatal collisions of a big-city street during rush hour: a high-speed catch-me-if-you-can, a conversation at warp speed, with harmonious meetings and jarring separations, and never a time to rest – all played this evening with virtuosity that left one breathless.
Abby Wasserman, Classical Sonoma, July 10, 2021
It appears that the entire concert was a wonderful experience for all who attended and performed. It’s so nice to see that live music is moving back into full swing.
