Steichen, Ridgefield Symphony cap off first season like shooting stars

By Jan Stribula
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Updated: 04/09/2009 06:37:56 PM EDT

RIDGEFIELD -- Culminating their first season together with Saturday's concert celebrating the International Year of Astronomy, music director Gerald Steichen and the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra irrefutably proved that the sky's the limit.

Cloudy weather precluded a stargazing party after their performance at Ridgefield High School. But comet- and star-shaped cookies served at an indoor reception gave everyone a chance to catch their breath and come back to planet Earth after a truly wondrous flight through outer space.

Steichen had a lot of help along the way. Astronomer Heidi Hammel suggested a program change early enough in the season to gear the concert toward the town's celebration of all things celestial. Media artist Eva Lee prepared a phenomenal visual presentation, adding more to "The Planets" by Gustav Holst (1874 -- 1934) than words can approximate. Josh Smith, Ridgefield public schools' director of technology and Cornell University graduate student Laura Spitler coordinated the visual presentation with the real time tempos Steichen chose with the RSO.

Although Ridgefield is marking the 400th anniversary of the astronomical telescope, my own limited stargazing with binoculars makes me feel closer to Galileo than Hubble. Regal and majestic photography from actual space probes enlightened my limited knowledge of worlds beyond my immediate experience.

I felt sorry for the musicians who were unable to watch the dazzling presentation.

Keeping up with Steichen and the score was fully occupying their attention.

Holst composed "The Planets" during World War I, and it begins with Mars, in a disturbing, threatening tempo, with the strings section using the back of their bows in a strident warning of impending doom. Venus, the bringer of peace, follows with a beautiful French horn and flute passage, with celeste and two harps sounding almost like Debussy.

I know I'm not the only one to have used the music from Jupiter, the bringer of jollity, for my wedding march. Suffice it to say, anytime I hear it, it brings back special memories.

Reaching the outermost planet Neptune, the mystic, the RSO played pianissimo, as Daniela Sikora led members of the Ridgefield Chorale singing wordlessly backstage with a fadeout suggestive of a timeless eternity.

The concert started with works much more grounded and down to earth. "Candide Overture" by Leonard Bernstein (1918 -1990) brought the evening to life with its brash brass, fluttering winds, and rich strings. The massive orchestra of over 90 included members of the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra joining the RSO in the overture.

"Appalachian Spring" by Aaron Copland (1900 -- 1990) was like a breath of fresh air. Steichen conducted at a vigorous pace, with no sleeping in, going from an energized sunrise, through variations on simple gifts, settling down as the day winds into evening.

It's been a stellar start for Steichen. Aptly dubbed a "Pied Piper" by Courtenay Cauble, I can now feel safe calling him a space explorer. We've seen him polish some musical gems, adding dancers, soloists, taking full advantage of some of the talent available on this planet. I wonder where they'll take us next season.