The 21st season of the Hot Springs Music Festival wrapped up on Saturday, and festival Executive Director Suzanne Davidson said that the finale concert, a performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5, moved some of the audience members to tears.
"I was with a friend who said he heard the same piece, Mahler's Fifth Symphony, done by the Chicago Orchestra, which is famous for doing it, and he said, 'this is every bit as good.' I'm not downplaying last year, but I heard probably half a dozen mentors say we really have some outstanding students this year," Davidson said. "I'd put the last night's performance up against any orchestra anywhere. People were in tears Saturday night."
A hundred musicians joined Peter Bay, the festival's music director and conductor, on stage for this monumental work that unfolded over the course of more than an hour. Lynn Payette, the festival's preconcert speaker, compared the musical experience to climbing Mount Everest, complete with a breathtaking view at its summit and a safe, satisfying return to base camp.
Davidson said that the festival is in much better shape now, financially and otherwise, compared to 2015, as bad weather and air conditioning issues put a damper on last year's festival.
"We're in better shape financially, so there's not that nerve-racking worry," she said. "We're going to be able to pay all our bills related to the festival this year. I think that's probably a first; I'm not sure, but it probably is."
Apart from Mahler's Symphony No. 5, another crowd favorite was Annie Chalex Boyle's performance of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major, Opus 35, on June 9 at Oaklawn Magnet School. Considered one of the most technically difficult works for the violin, Davidson said Boyle's rendition was extremely emotional and that every once in awhile a subtle "wow" could be heard from the audience.
"She's standing the whole time she's doing it and she's very emotional in her playing, big, sweeping arm movements, and all the students were trying to play but trying to watch her at the same time because it was just so fascinating," Davidson said. "Somebody didn't know that you don't clap between movements, and people jumped up and she got a standing ovation after the first movement."
Two additional standing ovations were given to Boyle after the second movement and an encore performance.
"We got lots of comments about what a great season it was, so I'm gratified," Davidson said.
Local on 06/21/2016