Sax legend Wayne Shorter joins Orpheus for electric concert at Lafayette
By: Jodi Duckett
Prometheus was a Titan of ancient Greek mythology who stole fire from the gods in order to enlighten mankind. By opening its Wednesday evening program at the Williams Center Wednesday night with Beethoven’s overture of that name, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra paid homage to another Prometheus, jazz saxman/composer Wayne Shorter.
The multiple Grammy Award winner and his quartet joined the orchestra as “soloist” in the program’s second half, for the world premiere performance of four pieces Shorter composed for Orpheus.
The electric opening of Beethoven’s “Creatures of Prometheus” was crisp and incendiary, its overall vigor tempered by the sweetness of a flute duet and some pristine woodwind passages. The Beethoven was followed by a lush reading of Charles Ives’ Symphony No. 3, “The Camp Meeting.” This is some of Ives’ most gentle, meditative music, and Orpheus performed it splendidly.
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