CSO gives vigorous Beethoven offering

The Charleston Symphony Orchestra's all Beethoven concert Saturday night at Gaillard Auditorium was a stunning example of just how excellent the orchestra is and how effective Conductor David Stahl is in revealing the music's profundities.

While the orchestra was slimmed down to 36 players, the sound they produced was plenty loud. Stahl drew from orchestral various sections and individual players some extraordinary playing.

Opening with the vigorous and exciting overture to "Egmont," Stahl and the orchestra wasted no time in establishing how well they understood Beethoven's curtain-raiser.

Pianist Sean Kennard, a graduate of Curtis Institute of Music and currently studying with Enrique Graf at the College of Charleston, is a mere 25 years old. His take on the Beethoven "Concerto No. 3" was remarkable with his keyboard aplomb and mature insight into Beethoven's unique musical poetry.

Kennard already has amassed a distinguished group of awards and experience with many orchestras worldwide. Stahl and the orchestra accompanied Kennard with expertise and drama, so that a standing ovation for all the performers was well deserved.

Stahl expertly led the orchestra through the "Symphony No. 3" (Eroica), a long, extraordinary and inconoclastic composition, one of the works ushering the romantic era in music.

Stahl's reading of the Eroica never dragged and always was unfolding with new musical ideas. The Gaillard audience was quiet and attentive and gave another standing ovation.