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Tour of France
a tour de force

Symphony ball goes high-tech

Jean-Yves Thibaudet: With the Honolulu Symphony and guest conductor Maximiano Valdés, 7:30 p.m. today at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Tickets $15 to $50. Call 792-2000.

By Ruth O. Bingham
Special to the Star-Bulletin

GUEST conductor Maximiano Valdés led the Honolulu Symphony in a vivid musical snapshot of French music at the turn of the 20th century, revealing its often programmatic and exotic inclinations. Three of the four works were "programmatic," or based on non-musical ideas: Paul Dukas' 1897 L'Apprenti sorcier (The Sorcerer's Apprentice), a poem by Goethe; Fauré's 1898 incidental music for Maeterlinck's play Pelléas et Mélisande; and Debussy's ever-popular 1905 symphonic sketches of La Mer (The Sea). The fourth work, Saint-Saëns's 1897 Piano Concerto No. 5, exemplified exoticism, flitting halfway across the world quoting other musics without leaving French soil.

Similarly exotic, featured pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet has traveled the world but has also retained his French roots. At last night's concert, with fingers as long and slender as his figure, Thibaudet conjured the unusual effects and vibrant colors of Saint-Saëns's emotionally laden music.

Whether playing a madcap flurry or single notes, Thibaudet wove a compelling spell. Although his sound was not particularly large, it was well suited to the grace of French esprit, and his exceptionally fast, light technique sailed easily through the most difficult passages and complex rhythms, culminating in a finale designed to astound, as it did.

Despite few visual cues, Thibaudet and Maestro Valdés matched styles perfectly, yielding an elegant reading of Saint-Saëns's complex piano-orchestra relationship.

Valdés, raised in Chile speaking French and now a French music specialist, was neither flashy nor demonstrative, but he delivered a well-balanced, carefully blended orchestra against which the numerous soloists shone. Elegant rather than passionate and with flawless pacing, Valdés created a sound that made the orchestra sparkle.

Valdés delivered a polished performance after only three instead of the customary four rehearsals, graciously handing credit to the musicians: "This is a difficult program. I was very impressed with your orchestra. From the beginning, they knew what they had to do."

What they had to do included delicate pianissimos and thundering fortissimos, intricate tapestries of motives, and shifting tempos, much of it exposed and none of it easy. Virtually every principal contributed admirable solos: oboist Scott Janusch, especially in Faure/'s "Fileuse"; flutist Susan McGinn, including a lusciously cool version of Faure/'s famous "Sicilienne"; trumpeter Don Hazzard in Debussy's third movement; clarinetist Scott Anderson; bassoonist Paul Barrett, French hornist Ken Friedenberg ...

Under Valdés, the Honolulu Symphony brought French music to life. "French" music, however, is not just music by French composers; rather, it is a particular style. But there is no point describing that style, for as Valdés points out, "There is nothing more difficult than to describe music in words" and it must be experienced to be understood. A typically French sentiment, n'est-ce pas?

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Symphony ball
goes high-tech

The Honolulu Symphony's major annual fund-raising event -- the 3rd Annual Symphony Ball -- has entered the Internet age.

The silent auction of items from exotic trips to cars to jewelry will allow people anywhere in the world to view items through the Honolulu Symphony web site at www.honolulusymphony.com. All items will be hooked to Yahoo three weeks before the ball.

Bidders can place bids through yahoo.com from April 29 until the day of the ball, May 13, with on-line bidding closing at midnight (Pacific Standard Time).

Those attending the the black-tie ball can see the items and place bids at stations set up in the foyer of the Sheraton Waikiki.

Among items up for grabs is a 12-place setting of Noritake china made in Occupied Japan and donated by Mrs. Hanayo Sasaki of Manoa. Sasaki bought the china in 1948, while working in Japan.

The Symphony Ball takes place 6 to 11:30 p.m. May 13 at the Sheraton Waikiki. Individual tickets begin at $200; premium tables seating 10 start at $3,500

This year's theme is "Centennial Celebration," in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Honolulu Symphony and the 50th anniversary of the Honolulu Symphony Associates

For more information, call Keith Kadoyama at the Honolulu Symphony, 524-0815, ext. 237.

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