Cutting Edge Women At Charleston Symphony

Scott Terrell and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra brought "Cutting Edge Women" to the Charleston Music Hall stage in a charming mixture of music well known and too little known. Natalia Khoma was the featured cello soloist in Tchaikovsky's "Variations on a Rococo Theme." Her playing was elegant and the balance between soloist and orchestra was nicely judged.

The minor key andante variation accompanied by soft pizzicato strings was particularly piquant, though somewhat marred by music from a loud party going on outside. The closing variation, marked "allegro vivo," became more of a "vivacissimo" as things got going a little too fast, but it made for an exciting finish.

The brass and percussion sailed through Joan Tower's "Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman" with great aplomb and crisp attacks.

Jennifer Higdon's tone poem "Peachtree Street" from her "Cityscape" suite was excellently played, and Terrell's explanation helped with understanding, but it sounded a lot like outtakes from "Petrouchka."

Fanny Mendelssohn's "Overture in C Major" was a find. Perhaps this neglected composer's only orchestral work, the piece merits a regular place on concert programs.

The composer's command of her craft was secure and her harmonic palette was in advance of her time.

The evening closed with Ravel's "Mother Goose Suite," with the orchestra showing off lots of delicate tone colors and precise playing. Terrell provided explanations of the fairy tales, but I'm not sure they helped much. -- www.charlestonsymphony.com