The Madison Symphony Orchestra presented its final organ concert of the season, filled with warm, intimate music and conversations on March 31.
After the audience filled their seats and the lights dimmed, the music ensemble silenced the crowd with Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Finale from Nonet in F Minor, Op. 2, as a dense note held the air before the romantic and melodic song began.
Greg Zelek, who played the organ, said he rearranged the song’s piano part for the organ because the piece sounded wonderful with the organ, calling it the “perfect way to open the program.”
“There [is] a moment when the main theme comes back, where [JJ Koh, principal clarinet] played so softly that I had to play the absolute softest sounds on the organ,” Zelek said. “But …it was so effective because you had this gorgeous melodic line, soaring through the hall with the organ just very subtly playing like a heart beating underneath it."
After performing Coleridge-Taylor's piece, Zelek spoke to the audience about the nine chamber musicians from the MSO and what the rest of the evening would sound like. Six musicians performed solos with Zelek, based on works by Mozart and Piazzolla, before concluding the night as an ensemble.
The first solo work began with Izumi Amemiya (oboe) playing Antonín Dvořák's Largo from the Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95. During each solo piece, Zelek or the musician would share the history of the piece or how they practiced it, weaving some humorous anecdotes. After Amemiya, Koh played next, performing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Adagio from Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622.
Then came Potter, who played the French horn to Mozart’s Allegro from Horn Concerto No. 3 in Eb major, K. 447.
Zelek rearranged most of the pieces performed in the concert, as many compositions written for the organ didn't include the variety of instruments played during that evening. Through his rearrangements, Zelek focused on highlighting the versatility of the organ while ensuring the audience would always hear the musicians.
As Potter left the stage, Zelek performed his first solo piece for the night, Émile Waldteufel's Les Patineurs Skater's Waltz, through its light and airy notes, followed by an occasional blare of a note.
Next was Cynthia Cameron (bassoon), who played two different pieces. One was Michel Corrette's Allegro from Sonata in D minor, Op. 20, No. 2, and the other was Henry Mancini's Pink Panther Theme. In her anecdote for Pink Panther, Cameron said that while she practiced, her dog would sit by her and sleep on a chair beside her. However, when practicing for this piece, she would try snapping as loudly as she could, accidentally scaring her dog. As a result, the next time she practiced, her dog glared at her, causing the audience to roar with laughter.
When Cameron performed Pink Panther, members of the audience snapped along with her, recalling her story. Zelek said he loves attaching these stories and anecdotes to each organ concert, as it's not just the music the audience listens to, but the stories behind the music.
"It really helps the audience feel very relaxed in the hall, making it feel like they're almost sitting in someone's living room, surrounded by family and friends, as opposed to being in a very formal classical environment," Zelek said. "It also allows the audience to get to know the performers on stage, so that when they perform, they not only feel like they understand them musically, but they understand them personally."
Afterwards, Leanne Kelso (violin) and Karl Lavine (cello) played Astor Piazzolla's Invierno Porteño. The piece was executed harmonically, as the violin, cello and organ sounded like a melancholic tango. Zelek immediately launched into the next solo: Wilhelm Middelschulte's Perpetuum Mobile for Pedals Alone. This piece was fast and technical as he moved across all the pedals on the organ, making it an intense moment. Zelek said he wanted to engage with the audience in a multitude of ways, and this was one of the ways he wanted to catch their attention.
"It created this sort of energy in the hall, where everyone suddenly, like 'Oh, what's going on?' And then they were really engaged, because I'm playing something with only my feet," Zelek said. "So I thought it was just an effective way to transition and into something that's just naturally very exciting."
Finally, the whole ensemble came together again to perform their final song of the night: George Frideric Handel's Organ Concerto in G minor, Opus 4, No. 1 (HWV 289). After much applause and calls for an encore, Koh and Zelek came together to perform Benny Goodman’s Sing, Sing, Sing. As a celebratory jazz piece, the piece marked the end of the performance and the season, while showcasing the various assortments of music.
Zelek said this was one of the most successful seasons to date in terms of ticket sales, and he looks forward to the 22nd season, which starts Sept. 27.
"I'm so grateful to our audiences, because they're the reason that I enjoy what I do so much," Zelek said. "The enthusiasm from the crowd and the support that I feel is so special here in Madison. I'm very grateful for this past season, and I'm really looking forward to next year."
