Discovery Ensemble
A major regional theater is turning itself into a launching pad for Broadway/Las Vegas blockbusters, with Hollywood pouring cash and advice into the pipeline. .
The Discovery Ensemble’s precision was also on full display in the vigorous contrapuntal writing that came across with impressive, electrifying energy and visceral punchiness.
As if the Discovery Ensemble’s impressive return after a three-month hiatus weren’t news enough, last week brought the announcement that Courtney Lewis has been appointed assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic, beginning this fall.
Discovery Ensemble is one of Boston’s great musical treasures, a group that consistently reminds us not only that the music they play is important, but why that’s the case to begin with.
Sunday’s concert had the Discovery Ensemble and conductor Courtney Lewis playing with uncommon vigor and focus: this was one of the most exciting symphonic performances that any local orchestra has given this season.
John Adams’s Chamber Symphony brought out the best in Mr. Lewis as a conductor: it was fun watching him maneuver through the score’s intricate rhythmic patterns and his confidence was reflected by the Ensemble in a brash, involved reading of a far-too-little-heard (in these parts, at least) piece.
Discovery Ensemble is already the local ensemble to watch for their brilliant programming and energized performances. Now add to that their commitment to educational outreach and Boston’s underserved communities.
Bravo to Courtney Lewis and the Discovery Ensemble for programming Esa-Pekka Salonen’s “Five Images” and pulling off such an engrossing performance.
It’s a pity we can’t hear the Discovery Ensemble every week – it’s a group that radiates energy and models inventive programming.
Classical Music Commentary: Closing Thoughts on the Discovery Ensemble
For those who got to know the Discovery Ensemble over its truncated life, this was a vital ensemble, one that regularly embodied all that’s good about classical music.
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