PARADIGM CONCERT SERIES: Viva Vivaldi and Mozart!; Sunday evening, Dec. 3, All Saints Episcopal Church (1710 S. Foothill Drive). Additional performance Monday, Dec. 4, at 8 p.m. in All Saints Episcopal. No admission charge, although donations will be accepted to benefit the Salt Lake Interfaith Hospitality Network.
The All Saints Chamber Group, under the baton of music director Joel Rosenberg, gave one of its best performances ever at Sunday's Viva Vivaldi and Mozart! concert. The chamber orchestra, which has only been in existence a couple of years now, is fast becoming an ensemble of some note. Its performances are marked by precision and dexterity and by a sense of purpose.
In addition to leading the orchestra, Rosenberg was also the viola soloist in Mozart's magnificent Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola, K. 364, performing it together with violinist Kelly Parkinson. These two artists played their respective parts beautifully. Both exhibited an innate musicality that was combined with a keen virtuosity. They were totally in tune with each other, and they gave a compelling and dynamic performance.
Rosenberg took the opening "Allegro maestoso" tempo marking quite literally. He brought out the majesty and grandeur of the first movement, with its broad, dramatic gestures, perfectly.
The middle "Andante" movement, on the other hand, was absolutely heart-wrenching. The music was played sensitively and poignantly by both the soloists and the orchestra.
The final "Presto" was invigorating and fresh. Rosenberg and Parkinson played this movement with a light hand that gave the music bounce and spirit.
Guitarist Todd Woodbury soloed in Vivaldi's Concerto for Guitar in D major. Woodbury is an outstanding performer who did a wonderful job with this breezy and lighthearted piece. While one of Vivaldi's best known and most melodic works, Woodbury's tantalizing interpretation of this concerto breathed new life into it.
In Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Trumpets in C major, Michael and Steven Purcell were the soloists. They are first-rate trumpeters who sparkled in this dazzling and brilliant piece.
Also on the program was the traditional "Coventry Carol" performed as a duet by Woodbury and Rosenberg. And finally, Woodbury soloed in a unique rendition of "Greensleeves" that effectively combined different musical styles.
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