The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 64, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 3, 1977 Page: 7 of 12
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Andres Segovia reveals mastery of guitar
by Matt Muller
Master guitarist Andres
Segovia appeared last
Wednesday in Jones Hall in a
program sponsored by the
Society for the Performing
Arts.
Segovia opened the evening
with two suites by Robert de
Visee and Fernando Sor and a
beautiful Serenata by
Gusteve Samazeuilh. The
opening Suite—deVisee's—
Jon Vickers:
compelling in
Peter Grimes
by Matt Muller
Houston Grand Opera
presented a strong, compelling
production of Benjamin
Britten's opera Peter Grimes
over the last weekend. Sparked
by the magnificent singing of
tenor Jon Vickers and
complemented by excellent set
design, the performance
demonstrated how much
emotional force is contained in
this stark, touching tale of a
driven and rejected outsider.
Musically this performance
was very strong. The
Orchestra and conductor John
Pritchard did a fine job with
Britten's superb score pro-
ducing sensitive performances
of the orchestral interludes
between scenes as wellas
providing solid support for
the cast. Jon Vickers, as
Peter Grimes, was the driving
force of the performance,
bringing to this demanding
role the empathy of a great
actor, his expertise honed by
numerous previous perform-
ances of the role. Patricia
Wells, as Ellen Orfield, sang
beautifully and, considering
the power of Vickers' voice and
role, held her own quite well. I
also found myself enjoying the
robust acting of Carolyne
James as Auntie.
Set design was excellent.
The only quibble I had was
with Peter Grimes' hut—it
seemed an overly artificial
scene—but the complaint is
insignificant considering the
excellence of the rest of the
design. The set for the three
first scenes ("The Borough
beach and street") was perfect.
Dark, smoky and chilly, it
caught beautifully the
prevailing mood of the work.
Considering the lack of on-
campus activities last
weekend, this provided a
welcome change-of-pace.
Opera tickets are not
inexpensive, but as they say—
you get what you pay for.
Incidentally, don't forget the
Houston Symphony Beetho-
ven-Stravinsky program next
Sunday, Monday, and
Tuesday.
Waiters & Waitresses Needed
3-4 days per week
Day & night shifts available
We offer a guaranteed wage &
training pro|jr,am
| Contact: Mr. Melcher or Mr. Artz
Petroleum Club of Houston
659-1431
seemed a bit labored as the
guitarist relaxed into the
performance, but Segovia
warmed up quickly, striking
an appropriately dry tone in
the Sor and then expanding
into the luxuriant harmonies
of the Serenata.
Seven transcriptions from
the works of Johann
Sebastian Bach were pro-
grammed. Especially note-
worthy were the performances
of the Fugue and the formally
elegant Bouree, in which Mr.
Segovia displayed the mature
grace and nobility of his
playing.
After the intermission
Segovia returned to play a
group of pieces more
commonly associated with the
guitar than the less well-
known suites in the first half of
the program. Segovia opened
with a Prelude by Hector Villa-
Lobos performed with a nice
gloss in the upper registers. He
carried this warmth into the
following piece, an Etude, also
by Villa-Lobos. Two pieces by
Alexander Tansman, a
composer unfamiliar to me,
followed. Both were fresh and
very appealingly crafted in a
pithy, epigrimatic manner.
In the Berceuse d'Orient
especially there were some
delightfully unusual harmonic
touches.
The evening was supposed to
conclude on two war-horses by
Isaac Albeniz; Granada and
the deservedly popular
Leyenda. After a dramatic,
exciting performance of
Leyenda the audience gave
Segovia a standing ovation
that he acknowledged with not
one but three encores.
Full time summer work. Senior
counselors needed for arts and
crafts - drama day camp in Houston
this Summer. Art or drama majors.
Salary based on experience.
Contact Tom Phillips evenings at
666-5798 or days at 723-8831.
HAROLD'S GARAGE
HENRY J. EN GEL, Owner
Automatic Transmission — Air Conditioning
Brakes — Engine Tune-Ups — Front End
Rebuilding — Wheel Aligning
2431 Dunstan 528-5323
IBM NEEDS
OUTSTANDING
PEOPLE
And we can offer outstanding
career opportunities in Marketing,
Engineering or Programming.
We will be interviewing at
Rice University
on February 9, 1977.
To find out about IBM and let us
find out about you, sign up for an
interview at the Placement Office or
write to: Mr. C.F. Cammack,
College Relations Manager,
IBM Corporation,
400 Colony Square, Suite 1111,
Atlanta, Georgia 30361.
IBM
An equal opportunity employer
the rice thresher, february 3, 1977—page 7
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McFarland, Carla. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 64, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 3, 1977, newspaper, February 3, 1977; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245320/m1/7/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.