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FRANKFURT/ Alte Oper: MUSEUMS CONCERT Giancarlo Guerrero, musical direction, Stewart Goodyear, piano. (L. Boulanger, Gershwin, Amber, Ravel)

From spring dreams to Broadway rhythms: A musical kaleidoscope at the Alte Oper Frankfurt. 20.1.2025
(Translation to EN)

A programme like a puzzle of musical masterpieces: Under the direction of Giancarlo Guerrero, the Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra presented on 20th century. January 2025 a cleverly arranged concert in the Alte Oper Frankfurt. The focus was on connections between European classical and American modernism, interpreted by an orchestra in the highest form and the brilliant pianist Stewart Goodyear. From Lili Boulanger's impressionist sounds to Ravel’s rhythmic “Boléro”, a bridge spanned the audience on a journey that has just as varied as it is exciting.

The start was presented by Lili Boulanger with her work "D’un matin de printemps”. Despite her short life, the younger sister of the legendary composition teacher Nadia Boulanger left behind an astonishingly ripe and colourful oeuvre. This piece, a tribute to the lightness of spring, captivates with impressionistic plays of color and a subtle rhythm that breathes the spirit of Debussy. Giancarlo Guerrero and the Opera and Museum Orchestra impressively explore the fine nuances of this score. With filigree precision and wonderfully coordinated dynamics, the orchestra let the shimmering textures and lyrical bows come alive. The balance between the instrument groups was excellent, and Guerrero's sensitive direction highlighted the delicate elegance of this music.

With Gershwin's Concerto in F, the concert changed continents – and the moods. In this work, the American composer combined the tradition of the classical piano concerto with the pulsating energy of jazz. Gershwin, who had searched for lessons with Maurice Ravel and Nadia Boulanger in 1928, proved his ingenious talent to unite the sound worlds of two continents in this work.

Stewart Goodyear, the Canadian pianist with Trinidadian roots, shined in all three movements. In addition to his career as a pianist, he is also active as a composer. Already in 2016, he thrilled the Frankfurt audience with Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. His sense of rhythm and timbre predestined him for the challenging Concerto in F.

The opening Allegro with its concise rhythms and sparkling chords was presented with impressive precision and energy. Goody's stop was powerful, clear and extremely accurate, its dynamic ranged from delicate pianissimo passages to powerful fortissimo outbreaks. The phrasing was thoughtful and brought out the jazzy elements of the piece. The orchestra supported him with a rhythmic precision and a pulsating drive, in which the percussionists and the brass spurt as a rhythmic backbone.

In the Adagio, Goodyear showed his lyrical side and formed the melodies with great sensitivity. His stop was particularly soft and nuanced here, the dynamics finely tuned. The lonely trumpet unfolded a warmly radiant melody, whose timbre reminded of the melancholic sounds of a night jazz club. Guerrero let this sentence blossom with great patience, the strings placed a velvety sound foundation, above which the woodwinds floated with impressionistic elegance. The great dynamic increase at the end of the set was breathtaking.

The final Allegro agitato was a firework of virtuosity, in which Goodyear's brilliant technique and his sense for the jazzy element were particularly prominent. His fingers literally flew over the keys, and the fast-paced runs and syncopated rhythms were presented with impressive precision and energy. The orchestra not only proved technical excellence, but also the ability to carry out the rapid changes of mood and the dramatic intensity of the movement.

Guerrero led the orchestra in Gershwin's Concerto in F with an impressive sense for style variety and rhythmic precision. Outstanding was the wonderfully intoned solo of the trumpet in the second movement. Huge cheers for the artists, whom Goodyear thanked with its own “prelude”.

Giancarlo Guerrero, who comes from Costa Rica, has established himself as a versatile and charismatic conductor. In Frankfurt, he was a celebrated guest with a spectacular concert a year ago. Guerrero is known for his ability to bring different styles to life with dedication and passion. He is certainly one of the conductors for whom the rhythm of a composition is the central basis for his reading. This was particularly impressive in the second part of the concert.

Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from “West Side Story” is a tribute to Broadway and an impressive orchestral masterpiece. Bernstein, a student of Nadia Boulanger, brought together Latin American rhythms, jazzy sounds and classical forms into a pulsating sound painting.

Guerrero and the Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra presented Bernstein’s “Symphonic Dances” from the “West Side Story” as a musical kaleidoscope full of colour and energy. The rhythmic precision was outstanding, especially in the Latin American dances such as the mambo, in which the drum group shined with sparkling vitality. The lyrical passages, for example in the “Somewhere” theme, were designed by the strings with longing warmth, while the wind instruments convinced by their characterful interpretation and fine intonation. Guerrero proved excellent timing and managed to maintain the dramatic tension of the dances. The orchestral representation of the conflict-ridden emotions of the West Side Story was captivating and allowed the audience to literally experience the tension of the plot. Especially the fine transitions between the contrasting styles – from jazzy-swinging to melancholic and dramatic – were impressively designed. The Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra played with stunning drive and printed play. The brass players inspired with magnificent groove, and the large group of percussionists transformed the Alte Oper into a cauldron. A brilliant performance!

The evening ended with Maurice Ravel's immortal "Boléro". This work, which was originally conceived as ballet music, is based on a simple, constantly repetitive melody, which increases into a huge crescendo. Ravel’s “Boléro” is a touchstone for every orchestra, and the musicians of the opera and museum orchestra mastered this challenge with flying colours. Guerrero conducted the piece with a fine sense for the creeping suspense. Starting with the very precise, hypnotic small drum, the instrument groups gradually developed the orchestral palette. The solos, especially of flute, clarinet, saxophone and trombone, were played with charming elegance, whereby the musicians kept the repetitive character of the piece captivating through subtle color changes and dynamic variations. The brass set radiant accents without ever seeming intrusive. At its peak, the orchestra unfolded into a huge ensemble, which nevertheless remained always controlled and transparent. Guerrero literally let the music explode, masterfully directing the dramatic energy of the crescendo. With doubled pelvic strokes, he led the work to an overwhelming finale. Remarkable was his minimalist, almost pantomimeical conducting technique, which impressively emphasized the extraordinary precision and agreement between him and the orchestra. Guerrero is not only a convincing motivator at the present, but a conductor who allows his orchestra to record without keeping it close in close control. The applause was accordingly enthusiastic – there was also plenty of recognition from the ranks of the orchestra for this special master on the podium.

The concert was an extraordinary listening experience that impressively demonstrated the diversity and emotional range of the works presented. Giancarlo Guerrero once again proved that he is a conductor of remarkable stylistic flexibility and musical enthusiasm. Stewart Goodyear shined as a soloist with technical sovereignty and a particularly pronounced sense for Gershwin's sound world. The Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra has shown itself in every style – from the impressionist magic of Boulanger to the rhythmic noise of Ravel – as a highly versatile and inspired ensemble. An evening whose impressions are likely to resonate for a long time.

Dirk Schauß, 21. January 2025

Museum Concert on 20th January 2025 at the Alte Oper Frankfurt

Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra

Giancarlo Guerrero, musical direction

Original article HERE