Climate Change Comes to Kleinhans
My Review of the Buffalo Philharmonic's "Tchaikovsky & Mozart," January 12, 2024
As I write these words Winter Storm Gerri, currently wreaking havoc on the Great Plains, threatens hurricane winds during the Bills’ Super Bowl run in Orchard Park. This heavy weather, a consequence of a warming planet and increasingly dangerous storms, is due to systemic climate change.
Mankind’s deleterious effect on the natural world is the subject of composerJimmy López Bellido’s Altered Landscape, inspired by the Nevada Museum of Art’s photography exhibit of the same name. Altered Landscape was commissioned by the Reno Philharmonic and debuted in May 2022 under the baton of Conductor Laura Jackson.
The Buffalo Philharmonic brought Ms. Jackson, Altered Landscape, and pianist Ying Li to Buffalo January 12-13, 2024 in a program titled Tchaikovsky & Mozart.
Altered Landscape
Altered Landscape‘s programmatic origins are similar to Koyaanisqatski, Godfrey Reggio’s cinematic cri de couer scored by Philip Glass (1982). Indeed, Glass’ serialism can be heard throughout, but especially in the expansive first movement “The Great Acceleration,” (4:30-5:00).
Below is a previous performance of Altered Landscape by Laura Jackson and the Reno Philharmonic:
Bellido is not derivative, however, and expands Glass’s minimalism by juxtaposing dissonance and sweet melodies accented by the harp. The second movement, “Stillness,” evokes the isolation and simmering anxiety of the COVID shutdown with trilling woodwinds giving way to sweeping, dramatic strings.
As Koyaanisqatski invoked Hopi Prophecy (“if we dig precious things from the land, we will invite disaster”) Altered Landscape’s Third Movement, “Reckoning,” is a meditation on the Rig Veda’s Gayatri Mantra, a universal prayer. Its Hindu inspiration can be clearly heard in the woodwind interlude at 28:30-29:00.
Altered Landscapes concludes with “Alignment,” the strongest of the four movements. Its callbacks give it a cinematic feel; I heard clear references to Bernard Hermann’s iconic North by Northwest score, although that could just be me and my bias in favor of the greatest movie ever made.
Altered Landscape holds a mirror to our failed stewardship of the earth. It tells an urgent message with beautiful music. We should take the time to listen.
Ying Li
25 year-old pianist Ying Li is a precocious and remarkable talent. Last evening’s stop in Buffalo on her way to a tour of Italy may be her last in a tertiary market such as Buffalo, as she moves from winning international competitions to filling concert halls.
Mozart’s Piano Concerto #20 has been popular since its 1785 debut and represents the dark, haunted Mozart of Don Giovanni (1787) and Requiem (1791). Piano Concerto #20 is a rare diversion from Mozart’s major-key palette; it is in D minor, known through the ages as the darkest of keys.
Ms. Li not only gave a note-perfect performance, she demonstrated a deep understanding of the music. She wrung Mozart’s pain from the Kleinhans Steinway in a way rarely heard in my decades of attendance.
Ms. Li can be heard performing Mozart’s Piano Sonata in B-flat Major (K.333) here.
Ms. Li has clearly mastered her instrument, but she is a musician rather than merely a pianist. Listen as she imbues Mozart’s musical phrases with depth and artistry. Indeed, if last night’s three curtain calls are any indication, I am not the only one who expects great things from young Ms. Li.
Laura Jackson
In a brief interview after the concert Ms. Jackson compared being a guest conductor to a blind date. If so, she and the BPO hit it off splendidly.
Entrances were together and timely and the musicians responded well to Ms. Jackson’s reserved conducting style. The entire program felt well-rehearsed, no small feat for a guest conductor’s first visit.
The program opened with Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, Overture-Fantasy (1880). Ms. Jackson and the BPO did right by Tchaikovsky and told the story we all know, filling the hall with themes of love and violence.
I close with a shout-out to the percussion section and harpist Madeline Olson, both of whom rose to the program’s high demands on their talents.
Finally, I heard somewhere that writing about classical music in a way that engages people can be hard; I would therefore be remiss if I didn’t mention Chaz Stuart’s excellent program notes.
Conclusion
As this review goes to press, I am informed by noisy social media alerts that Winter Storm Gerri has created a state of emergency in Buffalo. It is therefore unlikely Ms. Jackson, Ms. Li, and the BPO will be able to repeat last night’s wonderful performance as scheduled.
Thus, tonight’s performance of Altered Landscapes is canceled by dangerous weather created by climate change.
Ironic, no?
The weather was no big deal, but thanks! Chiefs coming to town Sunday.
Ugh so sorry you guys are hit with such bad weather but... congrats on the Bills win!