Cellist Asier Polo
The Monterey Symphony has been enjoying a Spanish connection this season. It is not that we have been hearing so many pieces from the Spanish repertoire, but because four out of seven concerts during the current season feature Spanish soloists. So far we have heard guitarist Angel Romero, pianist Pedro Carbone and cellist Carlos Prietro. Last night at Sherwood Hall we heard yet another Spanish soloist in the return engagement by cellist Asier Polo, who made a strong impression as soloist with the Monterey Symphony in 2005.
Originally last night’s concert was supposed to feature the Brahms Double Concerto for Violin and Cello in A minor, Op.102, with violinist Lorenz Nasturica, concertmaster of the Munich Philharmonic joining cellist Asier Polo. Alas, it was not to be, for late in the game, Nasturica wasn’t able to be with us. Thus it was that last night we had a program substitution and an opportunity to hear Polo joining Maestro Max Bragado-Darmen and the Monterey Symphony in an intense performance of Antonin Dvořák’s great Cello Concerto in B minor.
Polo’s charming stage presence was matched by his ability to engage the attention and the hearts of the audience last night to produce a performance of considerable vitality. Although the thickness of the orchestral texture tended to obscure some of Polo’s playing in the first movement, his performance in the second and third movements was powerful and emerged from the surrounding textures to glorious effect. After a standing ovation, Polo performed as an encore “Nana” by de Falla, which is scored for solo cello, accompanied by four cellos. It was a brief but lovely lyrical tone poem – as quiet as it was intense.
The other work on last night’s program was a perennial favorite, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 in B minor, “Pathétique.” As always, this great symphony comes across as a gigantic tour de force that shows off a symphony orchestra’s strength (and sometimes its weaknesses). We heard lovely solos by flutist Dawn Walker, clarinetist Ginger Kroft Barnetson, oboist Bennie Cottone and bassoonist Jane Orzel. In climatic moments the percussion section was on hand to render a crash of symbals and some mighty drum effects. More than one person was heard exiting the concert humming one of Tchaikovsky’s great melodies.
End
