A Memorable Evening with Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

A Night with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra: From Clyne to Dvořák

The Atmosphere Before the Performance

As I walk into the Winspear, I’m jittery excited for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra performance. Before the main event begins, the Winspear Centre’s vast hall is alive with the fragmented sound of musicians practicing their parts. Disjointed notes float through the air, creating a sense of anticipation as the audience trickles in. At precisely 8 p.m., a hush falls over the crowd, signaling the start of the evening’s performance. Applause erupts as Michael Stern, the esteemed conductor, strides confidently onto the stage. The hall, illuminated by the eager faces of the audience and the glimmering instruments of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, is ready for the night’s journey through music.

Tonight’s program features the works of Anna Clyne, Tchaikovsky, and Dvořák, brought to life by a talented roster of 56 musicians. Each piece promises to take the audience on a unique emotional journey, from the ambiguous and evocative tones of Clyne to the timeless melodies of Dvořák.

Setting the Stage with Anna Clyne

The performance opens with This Midnight Hour, an orchestral composition by Anna Clyne. Premiering in 2015 at the Théâtre Espace Coluche in Plaisir, this piece stands out for its haunting beauty and narrative ambiguity. Before diving into the music, Stern offers a brief introduction. While he typically prefers to let the music speak for itself, he acknowledges the unique impact of Clyne’s work, describing it as evocative yet open to interpretation.

Inspired by poems from Juan Ramón Jiménez and Charles Baudelaire, This Midnight Hour creates a vivid yet abstract soundscape.

“The poems have nothing to do with one another,” Stern notes, yet they converge to inspire a composition that is deeply visual.

Clyne deliberately refrains from imposing her narrative, encouraging listeners to craft their own personal stories as the music unfolds. This approach adds a deeply personal dimension to the experience, making each performance unique to its audience.

A Journey Through Sound

Stern explains the deliberate programming choice: pairing Anna Clyne with Dvořák creates a fascinating interplay.

“We listen to Dvořák differently because of Anna Clyne. And we listen to Anna Clyne differently because of Dvořák,” he remarks, hinting at the layered emotional impact of the evening’s selections.

As the orchestra begins, the lower strings immediately command attention with a forceful, pulsating rhythm. The quickened tempo mirrors the sensation of a racing heartbeat, drawing the audience into an emotional whirlwind. Moments of high-intensity panic are tempered by interludes of calm, only to accelerate once more into chaos.

Throughout the piece, the music ebbs and flows, creating a dynamic interplay of tension and release. The percussion adds an almost primal intensity, with moments that make the listener’s hair stand on end. Images of pursuit, fleeting peace, and sudden panic seem to leap from the music. This thematic unpredictability keeps the audience captivated, their hearts responding instinctively to the shifts in tone and tempo.

A Surprising Finale

Before the performance begins, Stern shares an intriguing comment with the audience: “If at the end, you choose to giggle, you can.” This cryptic warning sets the stage for a finale that surprises and delights.

The concluding movement of This Midnight Hour sharply contrasts with the rest of the composition. After an extended feverish section, the music takes an unexpected turn, eliciting laughter from the audience. The juxtaposition of dramatic tension and comedic release is both clever and disarming, leaving a lasting impression.

Bridging the Old and New

Anna Clyne’s This Midnight Hour is a testament to the power of contemporary composition. By juxtaposing it with the more familiar works of Tchaikovsky and Dvořák, Michael Stern and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra create an evening that feels both timeless and innovative. The performance underscores how modern works can deepen our appreciation of classical repertoire and vice versa.

As the audience departs the Winspear Centre, the echoes of the evening linger—a reminder of music’s ability to transcend time, challenge perceptions, and inspire individual interpretation.