Casual concert brings harmony to the holidays

By Steve Hicken

Special to the Democrat

The full house at Florida State University's Ruby Diamond Auditorium came to Saturday evening's Holiday Magic concert by the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra expecting holiday cheer and entertainment. They were not disappointed.

The orchestra, under the direction of guest conductor Alexander Jimenez, played through a breezy program of orchestral excerpts, medlies and Christmas songs and carols. The atmosphere was casual, and that was reflected in the sometimes loose ensemble and shaky transitions. But the audience thoroughly enjoyed it, and that's what counts in a critic-proof event like this.

The orchestra was joined by soprano Joyce Guyer for several songs and carols. Guyer has a beautiful, big voice, but it was compromised by unnecessary and low-fidelity amplification. Her winning stage presence and easy rapport with the audience carried the day. There's a show-business adage that says you should never work with animals or children, but Guyer succeeded in singing "Do You Hear What I Hear?" with boy soprano Nathan Hoekman, who was also in fine voice.

The highlight of the evening was a performance of the suite from Peter Tchaikovsky's holiday evergreen "The Nutcracker," featuring dancers from the Pas de Vie Ballet company. Myriah Harper and Adam Perry brought passion and exoticism to the "Arabian Dance" and Diamond LaGrave imbued "Trepak" with graceful athleticism.

The Hanukkah Festival Overture of Lucas Richman provided some cultural contrast and was the platform for some fine soloing by concertmaster Emily Hanna Crane and clarinetist Frank Kowalsky.

After a sing-along version of "Silent Night" (I was really good, as were others), the concert closed with the TSO Youth Symphony joining the orchestra in "Joy to the World."

Happy Holidays!

Steve Hicken is a Tallahassee composer and writer on music. His blog can be found at www.listen101.blogspot.com. He is currently writing a book about 20th-century music.

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