In September
2011, conductor designate of the Michigan State University, Kevin Noe, raised
some eyebrows by programming Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” for his first
concert with the orchestra. The Stravinsky
is known for its difficulty and for possibly being the greatest classical orchestral
work of the 20th century.
Recently it was announced
that Noe will be leaving MSU and is taking a visiting professor role at the
University of Missouri Kansas City.
Friday (October 25) will be his final concert with the MSU orchestra and
he is programming – wait for it – “The Rite of Spring”. The perfect set of bookends.
(Wharton Center, 8PM, www.music.msu.edu)
Clearly, the Stravinsky is
a special piece for the conductor. When I interviewed Noe for a Lansing State
Journal article prior to that first concert, he said, “I wanted to immediately
begin with electricity and a love for music.
The Rite of Spring is like an emerging star. It’s a primal bonding ritual. You feel naked when you’re playing it. It’s one of the top ten works of art – of ALL
art – of all time.”
During his tenure at MSU,
Noe brought the orchestra to a very high level.
He will be remembered for conducting a Mahler symphony each year in
order. Too bad we didn’t get to hear the 8th – “Symphony of a Thousand”.
I remember that the Rite
of Spring performance eight years ago was quite remarkable for a college orchestra
– and also remarkable was that Noe conducted it without the benefit of a score. His Mahler symphony concerts were also
excellent.
We’re sorry to see Noe
leave and expect that tomorrow’s concert will be an important performance.
Neither Kevin Noe nor Dean
James Forger, MSU College of Music could be reached for comment at the time of
this writing.
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