MUSIC REVIEW
Romero, orchestra enchant audience

By Gregory Shepherd
Advertiser Classical Music Critic

The Honolulu Symphony Orchestra's final program of the season was with guest artist Pepe Romero, one of the premier guitarists of the day.

Romero's long stage career began at age 7, and judging from the look on his face while playing, he hasn't lost a bit of enthusiasm in the 50 years since.

On Sunday, Romero transported the audience to the sun-dappled hills of Andalusia with his lyrical interpretation of Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez."

Written in a charmingly conservative idiom, the concerto has a melodic eloquence that enchants rather than overwhelms the ear.

The composer once said of the work, "It is meant to sound like the hidden breeze that stirs the treetops. ... It should be only as strong as a butterfly."

Romero gently coaxed out those gentle breezes and butterflies with as intimate an interpretation as could be imagined. Although miked very slightly, his acoustic guitar was largely on its own, and Romero's pianissimos drew the listener in like stage whispers.

The opening allegro con spirito has a delicate, rhythmic bounce that Romero allowed to build without force, and Samuel Wong and the orchestra were similarly restrained in their accompanying role.

The famous adagio that follows has a melancholic longing that hearkens to an earlier century, and Jason Lichtenwalter's performance of its plaintive English horn solo was justifiably singled out by Romero at the end of the performance.

The concerto ends with a gentle rondo, whose intriguing syncopation pattern grows out of its inspiration from Spanish folk songs.

Romero generously rewarded the audience's enthusiasm with two encores, "Fantasia" written by his father, and "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" by Francisco Tarrega.

One of Samuel Wong's most significant achievements over the past few years with this orchestra is the clarity he has brought, not only to the sound of the ensemble, but to the sweep and form of the works he conducts. One always has the sense that he has unstintingly researched every passage and knows exactly what he wants to do with the music.

This was nowhere more in evidence than with this program, particularly in his interpretation of Dvorak's Symphony No. 7, one of the composer's most intricately crafted large works.

He also made the piquant orchestration of Manuel de Falla's "Three-Cornered Hat" suite sparkle with radiance.

Here's to many more years of this brilliant conductor leading the Honolulu Symphony.

Gregory Shepherd has been The Advertiser's classical music critic since 1987.