Last NYP Summertime Concerts Ends with a Can-Can

[Ralph]

A hot, slightly muggy but sunny day didn't keep Avery Fisher Hall from being largely filled for the last New York Philharmonic Summertime concert. Gone was the huge New York City banner and in its place a proto-Impressionist mural of diffused and out of focus flowers, a perfect backdrop for "Soiree Francaise."

Bramwell Tovey again led with competence and energy, spicing the concert with very funny remarks. We can use him during the regular season although I'm sure he has nothing humorous to say about Mahler's Ninth.

Dukas's fanfare to precede La Peri got us off to a good start followed by the Bell Song from Lakame with soprano Laura Claycomb and the "Flower Duet" from the same opera with Claycomb and mezzo-soprano Beth Clayton, a stunning beauty as well as a fine singer. Both singers were fabulous.

After intermission, Bizet's "L'Arlessienne" Suite No. 2, played very vigorously! Beth Clayton returned for the "Seguidilla" from Carmen and "Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix" from Saint-Saens's Samson and Delila.

The concert formally closed with Offenbach's "Orpheus in the Underworld" overture but a rousing encore came: the barcarolle from Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel.

A terrific late afternoon NYP concert-wish there were more. Now to await Mostly Mozart.