Both performers and audience at the Meyerson Symphony Center Saturday night were conspicuously — and commendably — younger and more diverse than at most...
Both performers and audience at the Meyerson Symphony Center on Saturday night were conspicuously — and commendably — younger and more diverse than at most classical music concerts. Presented by the, the occasion was a concert by the Sphinx Virtuosi, a conductorless touring chamber orchestra. It’s one of multiple activities under the umbrella of the Detroit-based Sphinx Organization, which promotes classical music representation and recognition of Black and Latino artists.
The ensemble comprised 18 string players of technical excellence and élan. Violinists and violists played standing, cellists seated in chairs, bassists on high stools. Musicians gave friendly spoken introductions to the pieces, although at least a paragraph apiece in the printed program would have been helpful — and dates of composers and pieces.With lots of energy in the program’s music, including four very recent pieces, performances drew whooping enthusiasm from the audience.
Georgia native Xavier Foley was represented as soloist as well as composer in his Concertante for two double basses and string orchestra, subtitled. As with the program’s other recent pieces, this alternated ruminative and energetic music. The two solo basses — the other played by Kebra-Seyoun Charles — sometimes sang soulfully in upper registers, sometimes set the ensemble dancing, at one point collaborating in a frenzied quasi-cadenza. This got the evening’s most enthusiastic ovation.
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