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Review: Symphony in C hits all its marks

Though only nine minutes away from Philadelphia by train, Symphony in C’s Rutgers-Camden home is truly in another state, which is why the prospect of hearing Gyorgy Ligeti’s Violin Concerto on Saturday at the Gordon Theater felt vaguely perilous. This post-conservatory orchestra and its soloist Augustin Hadelich could be counted on to meet the music’s considerable demands. But what about the suburban audience? The outset was not promising: After a new orchestra piece by Roger Zare titled Green Flash (winner of the orchestra’s annual Young Composers Competition), the audience seemed in no mood to be shoved out of its comfort zone. Green Flash (whose title refers to an atmospheric condition at sunset) was not at fault. It’s a thoroughly accomplished piece that begins with references to Wagner’s Das Rheingold and any number of symphonies by Martinu before moving into its own dreamy orchestral world reminiscent of Kaija Saariaho’s orchestral textures. Though contemplative, the piece never feels static and has its own stealthy narrative. I’d love to hear it again.

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