Page 373 - ASMF Marriner 100 Coverage Book

Joshua Bell on violin with Academy of St Martin in the Fields closing out the CAMA
“International Series” at the Granada | Photo: David Bazemore

In his program note, Mendoza writes, “Think of the drum soloist as the uninvited
party guest, who in the end changes the direction of the party, to a new and exciting
mood.” Duly noted and manifested at the Granada on this significant night.

Following the world premiere, Bell and the always refined Academy then proceeded
on its more typical course as a purveyor of deep-dish standard fare. The Brahms
Concerto elicited that dreaded noise — applause between movements — but was a
forgivable sin, given Bell’s spectacular cadenza (Bell doesn’t seem to have much
interest in living composers, but he certainly nails the warhorse-y goods).

After intermission, Schumann’s Symphony No. 2 effectively delivered this orchestra’s
measured ensemble mastery, with Bell now joining the lofty rank-and-file group while
lending his leading bow in this “conductor-less” outfit.

More broadly, last week’s Academy orchestra concert served as a fitting climax for
another fine CAMA season, both via its orchestral “International Series” (the L.A. Phil,
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with new maestra
Nathalie Stutzmann, and Bell/Academy) and its chamber-sized “Masterseries” roster
(mandolinist Avi Avital and accordion virtuoso Hanzhi Wang, pianists Stephen Hough
and Hélène Grimaud, and the Sphinx Virtuosi).

And did we mention that CAMA actually hosted a world premiere last week? Suffice
to say, Santa Barbara is fortunate to have CAMA in its cultural midst.