Concert Review

An extravaganza closed the 2006-2007 season in Beersheva, as the Kibbutz Chamber Orchestra (Yaron Gottfried, conductor) joined forces with the Israel Sinfonietta (Doron Salomon, conductor) to create a symphonic sized ensemble.

By MAX STERN
Israel Sinfonietta Doron Salomon, Music Director Season Closing Concert Cultural Center, Beersheva June 9 An extravaganza closed the 2006-2007 season in Beersheva, as the Kibbutz Chamber Orchestra (Yaron Gottfried, conductor) joined forces with the Israel Sinfonietta (Doron Salomon, conductor) to create a symphonic sized ensemble. Directed entirely by Salomon, the colorful program, rarely if ever heard in the Negev, featured three celebrated orchestral showpieces: Debussy's impressionistic "Nocturnes" (Clouds and Festivals scenes), Dukas' scherzo "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," and Rimski-Korsakov's symphonic suite "Scheherazade," with entrancing violin cadenzas played by Sinfonietta concert master Yaron Prensky. Though the performance was not razor sharp, it was astonishing how well the ad-hoc "Philharmonic" of over 70 players managed to pull together. Salomon led his combined forces masterfully, shaping and punctuating these large, complex orchestral canvases with appropriate and expressive rubato and caesura. The enthusiasm of the players in both ensembles reflected their thirst for this big repertoire. It was especially gratifying to see the Beersheva winds and the Kibbutz players switch chairs on stage, giving each other a collegial swap at the principal solo parts. Heichal Hatarbut is the largest auditorium in Beersheva, but it is not a flattering one acoustically. The room gobbles up most of the sound before it reaches the audience, giving concert-goers all the more reason to look forward to the new concert hall being built across the way. Judging from the audience reaction this evening, it's clear that the time for a full symphonic orchestra in the Negev has arrived.