Sound Off

For the next Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Symphonic Hits Concerts (April 1 and 2 at 7:30), we welcome up-and-coming British conductor Michael Francis, who was brought on board just a couple weeks ago, replacing Mark Wigglesworth who is expecting a child back in England.  Michael Francis has made quite a reputation stepping in at the last minute.  In fact he launched his conducting career in 2006 by stepping out of the bass section of the London Symphony and into a rehearsal of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 4, replacing the conductor at seconds notice!  The next year, this time with only hours notice, he again substituted with the London Symphony, this time leading them in performance.  Ever since, he has focused on conducting.  His reputation as someone who can easily jump in recently led to a critically acclaimed debut as an emergency replacement with the Oregon Symphony, where he conducted a program of music, entirely new to him, on just two days notice.  Once he finishes his concerts in Indianapolis, he goes right back to Oregon, to fill in for yet another indisposed conductor.  I think this shows you not only how talented he is, but what a quick learner of scores he must be!

For his Indianapolis debut, Michael Francis will be leading a program of three incredible symphonic hits.  He begins with Ravel’s Ma Mere l’Oye (Mother Goose) Suite which consists of five miniature pieces depicting five different childhood fairy tales.  I really love these works because of their delicacy and charm.  It’s like holding a ship in a bottle.  The lines are so clear, and the structure so apparent, but at the same time so miniature and fragile.  For the evening’s concerto, the great pianist Jeremy Denk will join the orchestra to perform Mozart’s most famous Piano Concerto, his 21st.  This concerto is sometimes know as the “Elvira Madigan” named after the Swedish film that used it as background music.  Whether you know the film or not, I think you’ll agree that the second movement is one of the greatest things Mozart ever wrote.  To conclude the program, Michael Francis will lead the Sibelius Second Symphony, the great Finnish composer’s most famous.  Here's a clip to whet your appetite with the great young Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel.



So whether you want to simply hear great music, see a talented young conductor, or be blown away by a tremendous pianist, this concert should be lots of fun.  As always, I will be hosting Sound Off at 6:30 pm, right before the concert.  This week, I have a couple of special guests from the orchestra (contrabassoonist Mark Ortwein and keyboard player Sylvia Scott) who will show off some of the lesser know instruments in the orchestra and the effects they create in Ravel's Mother Goose. If you have a question for the musicians feel free to respond to this post, and I'll get it answered at Sound Off.  In addition, we're going to have a Sibelius trivia question and a chance to win tickets to a future Symphonic Hits concert, so you won't want to miss it!  Don't forget, that after the concert you can stick around and talk to myself and the musicians, plus grab a free glass of wine.  Hope to see you there!