Petko Dimitrov
In spite of record-setting cold weather, a sizeable audience turned out last Saturday at Ridgefield’s Anne S. Richardson Auditorium to welcome back former Ridgefield Symphony Assistant Conductor Petko Dimitrov as the evening’s guest conductor. A trained musicologist as well as a sensitive musician and an impressive conductor, Dimitrov led his musicians in skillfully rehearsed, well-conceived, and often powerful interpretations of three masterworks: Richard Wagner’s Overture to Der fliegende Holländer, Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 2 in C major, and Nicolai Rimski-Korsakov’s Scheherazade.
Dimitrov was masterful in his shaping and control of the alternating drama and lyricism in both the Wagner overture and the Schumann symphony, and the orchestra consistently and sensitively responded to his direction to give musical voice to his interpretations. All of the dramatic force and underlying lyricism of Wagner’s music came through, as did the myriad moods of Schumann’s symphony. In both interpretation and playing, the two performances provided a high level of listening enjoyment.
No matter how many times one hears it, Rimski-Korsakov’s colorful Scheherazade is always a treat, and Dimitrov’s interpretation brought it to life. The music itself is always delightful, of course; and although a couple of woodwind intonation problems prevented a continuation of the near perfection of the program’s first half, there were myriad wonderful highlights. The principal cellist was especially fine in his several solo spots, for instance, and Concertmaster Jorge Avila was beyond terrific as the musical voice of Scheherazade herself. The Ridgefield Symphony is very fortunate to have Mr. Avila on board. At the end of what was, all in all, a splendid concert, Mr. Avila (as well as the orchestra as a whole) received the sort of enthusiastic standing ovation they deserved.
As a reminder for RSO audiences, the orchestra’s next “classical” concert (set for March 5) will be held at the Wilton High School auditorium, 395 Danbury Road (Route 7) in Wilton.
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