Orchestra paints beautiful ‘Pictures’ Bangor symphony celebrates arts

The Bangor Symphony Orchestra celebrated the artist at its concert Sunday, performing Modest Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” with a stunning combination of reverence, awe and wonder.

Under the direction of conductor Xiao-Lu Li, the orchestra flooded the Maine Center for the Arts in Orono with vibrant musical visions that swept away the pictures of white snow, black ice and gray skies that have dominated nature’s exhibition this winter.

In his third concert since being appointed last year to succeed Christopher Zimmerman, Li swept away any and all doubts about his ability to lead the nation’s oldest continuing community orchestra to new artistic heights. Not only did the BSO find the large, broad brushstrokes of Mussorgsky’s masterpiece, it also illuminated the subtleties sketched in the picture’s backgrounds.

Li artfully led the orchestra and the audience through each of the 10 movements, which represent work completed by the composer’s friend, artist Victor Hartmann. In each movement, the orchestra played with a precision and passion that radiated throughout the hall, enticing concertgoers to listen and look more closely for the artistic vision Mussorgsky’s piece sought to honor.

The conductor and musicians gave equal consideration to the smaller piece “Elegy 911-01” written by the BSO’s principal bassist. Robert Rohe, 87, wrote it as a homage to those who died in the terrorist attacks on that date.

The deep sadness and regret the elegy expressed covered the audience like a heavy woolen blanket. Bells that chimed with hope finally overpowered the mournful strings and lifted those feelings. As the dirge ended, concertgoers sighed, acknowledging the emotions and memories the piece stirred.

As the concert opened, the orchestra’s rendering of the overture to Mozart’s Symphony No. 32 in G Major captured the complexity the composer found after his return to Salzburg, Austria, from Paris. It also left concertgoers longing for more of the depth Li and the musicians mined from Mozart and Johann Strauss’ “The Artist’s Life,” which ended the first half of the concert.

Li’s enthusiasm for the orchestra and his commitment to connect with the community have been evident with his recent visit to a Hancock County grade school and his delight Sunday at seeing children in the audience. Yet, even in these austere times, the conductor’s pleas for support and reminder to season ticket holders to renew subscriptions during intermission seemed an unnecessary and unwelcome interruption, like commercials at the movies.

A juried art exhibit of work created by Maine artists and inspired by “Pictures at an Exhibition” was on display during the concert. The BSO deserves a standing ovation for bringing together the area’s visual and musical artists for such a rewarding combination of art forms.

The Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s final concert of the season will be Verdi’s “Requiem” at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 13, at the Maine Center for the Arts. For information, call 942-5555.