Review: Alexander Shelley Conducts Tchaikovsky (and Tchaikovsky)

Alexander Shelley

Patrons who attend the Houston Symphony this week are in for a surprise and a treat. But the treat ought come as no surprise.

The surprise is that Augustin Hadelich was unable to travel to Houston to perform the Bartok violin concerto that had been scheduled. We get an all Tchaikovsky performance conducted by Alexander Shelley. Buy a ticket and go.

The treat is that our soloist, for the second week in a row, comes from the ranks of the orchestra. Concertmaster Frank Huang steps out front on short notice and pulls a War Horse from his hip pocket.

As I said, this treat should come as no surprise. If the orchestra decided to do so, it could program an entire season of concerti performed by members of the orchestra. Lots of people play golf and lots of people make music. But to be in an orchestra on the level of our Houston Symphony is the musical equivalent of aspiring to play on the PGA Tour.

"These guys are good."

(Ladies too, obviously, but the PGA marketing tag line is not a good fit for them.)

Shelley's performance in this mini-crisis was much more solid and impressive than his visit last spring. After the jump, a detailed review.

Profile: Alexander Shelley

Alexander Shelley

Next on the podium of your Houston Symphony is Alexander Shelley, who will conduct Bartok Violin Concerto No. 2 (with Augustin Hadelich as soloist) and Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5.

***UPDATE*** Mr. Hadelich had his travel plans disrupted by Sandy the Snowicane. Our own concertmaster, Frank Huang, has swooped in to save the day. Instead of Bartok, it will be an all Tchaikovsky evening with Huang performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto.

(Follow the links to view some exemplar performance).

So, for two weeks in a row, the soloist with our orchestra come from the orchestra itself. Bravo.

Now, on to the conductor.

Alexander Shelley, a good looking young chap from Great Britain, is one of a new type of artist that seems much more prevalent since I disconnected from classical music a couple of decades ago.

After the jump, a warning about me and my biases. With any luck, a little objective background too on the training and experience that Mr. Shelley brings to the task at hand this week.

The Contenders -- Now

Last spring I wrote a post on the old blog setting out the list of guest conductors for this season. These men are the presumptive contenders to be the Houston Symphony's new music director.

Since that time, one of their number spurned his engagement with the Houston Symphony for a guest conducting gig in Boston. This in turn caused a shifting in the repetoire to be covered by the remaining guests and by Hans Graf.

So after the jump, a quick look at the updated list of the contenders and their repetoire.