Angela Cheung performs with the Victoria Symphony at the Cowichan Theatre.
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ShareCheng and VSO open season in fine style
By Peter Rusland - Cowichan News Leader and Pictorial
Published: October 02, 2008 1:00 PM
Updated: October 02, 2008 1:49 PM
Pianist Angela Cheng’s gloriously dexterous gifts graced Cowichan Theatre’s revamped Steinway during Saturday’s version of Brahms’ Piano Concerto, No. 1.
Backed by the ever-superb Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Cheng deftly captured the composer’s emotionally saturated work in three parts during the relaxing, invigorating concert.
Global-level ivory queen Cheng played the complex piece by memory, her hair flipping up as her body landed at a full stop when needed.
Cheng’s masterful touches followed energetic conductor Tania Miller leading the VSO through Glinka’s prancing, Disneyesque Overture To Russlan and Ludmilla.
The night’s third tune, Dvorak’s multi-layered Symphony No.6 in D Major, Opus 60, was indeed a lushly painted landscape.
Shifting from haunting to melancholy to passionate and merry, Miller and crew were in full swing, nicely setting the stage for the season’s next six concerts.
That 7:30 p.m. slate continues Nov. 1 with guest conductor Julian Kuerti and clarinet master Keith MacLeod.
Classical concert rating: 8.5 batons out of 10.
