After two seasons of flux following the departure of longtime music director and conductor Ken Lam, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra began a triumphant new era with the “Festive Fanfare” concert at the UIS Performing Arts Center on Friday, Oct. 18.
Maestro Taichi Fukumura made his debut as new music director with excitement and aplomb, presenting a program filled with both delicacy and fiery passion, featuring a palpably energized orchestra and breathtaking playing from guest soloist Braimah Kanneh-Mason. “I can describe this program in a few words,” said Maestro Fukumura from the stage. “Optimism and excitement and also a sense of gratitude.”
The evening began with a one-two punch of the promised fanfare. A de rigeur rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” was followed by the quick and bombastic “Spitfire Prelude and Fugue” by William Walton, derived from portions of a film score he composed for a 1942 pro-Allied powers World War II propaganda film entitled “First of the Few” (retitled “Spitfire” for U.S. release). This high-energy introduction primed the pump for the evening’s two major set pieces.
After a brief break, guest violin soloist Braimah Kanneh-Mason took center stage for the orchestra’s rendition of “Violin Concerto in G Minor” (1912) by composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Maestro Fukumura described the composer (not to be confused with 19th century poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge – as having been hugely popular in his own time, but is only gradually being rediscovered by contemporary musicians. He also said the piece is “full of expansive melodies and spontaneous musicianship” and the acclaimed 26-year-old British violinist more than lived up to this description himself, infusing his playing with both aching beauty and raging fire as the composition demanded. At the performance’s conclusion, the audience erupted with a standing ovation, bringing the young soloist out for multiple curtain calls and a short encore of the double from Bach’s “First Partita for Solo Violin” (1720).
After intermission, Fukumura returned to lead the orchestra through an epic performance of Antonín Dvoák’s Symphony No. 8, which debuted in Prague in 1890. Inspired by the unpredictable natural wonders of the Czech countryside, this version took the audience on an emotional and sonic roller coaster, building to a high-octane final movement that felt almost violent in its staggering tempo shifts and passionate playing by the entire ensemble.
It was a fitting end to a thrilling evening of music, and a grand promise of things to come in the new season of the ISO. The next concert, on Nov. 8, will see the return of former ISO music director Alastair Willis as guest conductor.
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