There Stands the Glass

Had I realized I’d be able to watch a video of the concert the next day, I probably wouldn’t have dragged my poor human body to White Recital Hall on Monday, October 3. But I would have missed the privilege of sitting 15 feet away from Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Zhou Long. An interpretation of his “Spirit of Chimes” (13:30) thrilled me. I also enjoyed monitoring composer Mathew Fuerst’s reaction to a rendering of his “Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano” (33:20). I moved to the back row for Felix Mendelssohn’s “Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 49” (62:25 mark) ater intermission. The piece initially struck me as stale, but I gradually became invested in the reading of the 1839 composition by pianist Karen Hsiao Savage, violinist Hyeyung Sol Yoon and Gregory Beaver. And for better or worse, had I stayed home I wouldn’t have been troubled with the knowledge that less than 50 people availed themselves of the free offering on the campus of the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

I came into possession of a 95-year-old book titled A History of Music last week. The author derides Felix Mendelssohn’s “unhappy predilection for the expression of superficial sentiment.” Even though I too have yet to warm up to the composer, I didn't hesitate to pay $25 to hear Mendelssohn’s 1846 oratorio "Elijah" at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral on Sunday, August 14.

The choir of about 100 overseen by conductor William Baker delivered the massive jolt I anticipated. The multitude of vocalists was accompanied by a twenty-piece orchestra and fronted by professional soloists including soprano Victoria Botero. Approximately 450 people endured unforgiving wooden pews to take in the 140-minute endeavor.

The scale conveyed the magnitude of the incredible saga of the Biblical prophet. Yet the church’s high ceiling, stone walls and hard floor nullified concerns about “superficial sentiment.” The swirling sonic soup often resembled the psychedelia of last month’s Animal Collective concert. Were it not for the libretto in the program, one might have thought the choir was praising Baal.

Concert Review: Karen Hsiao Savage, Hyeyung Sol Yoon and Gregory Beaver at White Recital Hall

Concert Review: The Summer Singers of Kansas City & Orchestra’s “Elijah” at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral