October 5–12, 1995

music

The Symphony Orchestra of the Curtis Institute of Music

The program for the Thursday night concert by the Symphony Orchestra of the Curtis Institute of Music (what a mouthful; can't we just call them the Curtis Orchestra?) is pleasant enough. A hearty meat and potatoes selection will include a Beethoven overture, The Moldau, the Britten show-piece The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, and the darkly introspective Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3.

The aficionados of these regular concerts almost don't care what the orchestra plays. It has often been said that the Curtis Orchestra is Philadelphia's other great orchestra. In some respects, it is actually the better orchestra. Of course, this band of teenagers cannot match the uniform sheen of their mature colleagues, but for fervent, soaring tone, and the athleticism of these youthful fingers, the Curtis Orchestra consistently astonishes. Guest conductors such as Andre Previn and Mstislav Rostropovich have described their work with this orchestra as among the most satisfying experiences in their conducting work. At the risk of over-using a hackneyed expression, the playing of the Curtis Orchestra produces a sense of artistic magic that is woefully rare.

For this concert, the conductor will be Otto-Werner Mueller, who is the head of the conducting department at the school. The piano soloist is also a faculty member. The venerable Claude Frank is one of the finest living exponents of the German intellectual school of pianism, which was personified by his legendary teacher, Artur Schnabel.

Symphony Orchestra of the Curtis Institute of Music at the Academy of Music, Broad and Locust, 893-1999, Thurs., Oct. 12, 8 p.m.

Amphitheater tickets are free, but must be picked up in advance.

— Peter Burwasser