Sarasota Orchestra parades artistry in Masterworks concert

An orchestra concert isn’t always a peaceful retreat from the world, but on April 4, the Sarasota Orchestra provided a much-needed uplifting respite from the tumultuous days of past weeks.

Sarasota was one of three orchestras that commissioned the work “Horizons” by Peter Boyer in honor of a valued colleague upon her retirement. Pat Jocelyn was an artistic administrator for each orchestra; she spent 17 seasons here in Sarasota. 

Jocelyn inspired this glorious, expansive stretch of music, which was both comforting and invigorating with the horn soloist and entire section blooming in the spotlight. 

That Boyer is an accomplished film soundtrack composer was made evident by the images that sprung so precisely to mind from the music – long vistas toward the horizon whether over the plains or a vast ocean. 

The strings laid a remarkable carpet of floating textures seeming to urge us on a voyage. No need to delve into the composer’s bag of tricks, of which there were many, to create the entire environment. We could ride along on the waves with a strong sense of well-being. What delightful music to have as a legacy for Jocelyn.

Jon Kimura Parker is known for his versatility and charisma, but his performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 revealed the touch of a master in service of a brilliant score. This is a well-loved concerto burnished by time.

Guest conductor Earl Lee sensitively allowed the superb Sarasota musicians to show their best in partnership with the soloist. The pairing was like butter and transcendently so in the slow movement.

Throughout this concerto, even in the rollicking final movement, there was a unity of spirit that one wishes could be found more often outside the concert hall.

When all was done the audience raved with a standing ovation which prompted an unexpected, but welcome encore: Elton John’s "Bennie and the Jets"!

We had the overture, the concerto and now the symphony. Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98 is a mature work calling for a highly accomplished orchestra and conductor. 

We had the pleasure of both with the fine-tuned excellence of our orchestra and a relatively young conductor with an old soul. (Some of us remember Lee when he was a student fellow in the Sarasota Music Festival 25 years ago.) 

Together they sailed through the restless first movement with tight cohesion and purpose. Leaning into the peace we all crave, the beauty and spot-on delivery of the slow second movement offered welcomed sustenance. 

The boldly joyful third movement was both precise and fluid, opening the door to the steady slow march forward through numerous chaconne variations, parading the artistry of the orchestra and the genius of Brahms.

If you left this concert as joyful and rejuvenated as I did, that’s a very good thing.