Pure Beethoven
by Rita Kohn
Sean Newhouse made his Symphony on the Prairie conducting debut with a stunning trio of Beethoven works. The ISO players literally hugged the music, bringing not only a sense of loving what they were sharing, but equally pouring their very souls into the doing. Newhouse has a winning stage presence, imparting essential information to help us in the audience understand the intent and structure of the composition and to show why he himself loves this particular work. It’s equally evident that he and the players like working together. There’s a sense of ease within the electricity. Opening with Egmont Overture, “Beethoven as dramatist” came across clearly in the eight-minute overview of defiance against Spain’s control over Holland and the resistance that sparked Dutch independence. Pianist Shai Wosner brought a light touch to the driving Concerto No. 1 in C major for piano and Orchestra, Op. 15. With Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92, the ISO players shone with sterling solo and section playing, bringing forward the dualities of joyfulness and despondency, the colorations of ever-hopeful spring and summer, the acceptance of fall and winter, yet ever-believing in the eternal circularity — spring again comes if we wait. —Rita Kohn
