Andrew Meacham, Tampa Bay Times, 1st October 2016
“Hearing [Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9] live, as the Florida Orchestra gives us a chance to do with the opening of its season this weekend, renews appreciation as only a performance can. A full Morsani Hall at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts on Friday heard a magnificent blend of orchestration and voices, two dimensions Beethoven tinkered unceasingly to unite. The result is one of the grandest compositions ever written, pulled off splendidly by the orchestra and the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. It was also a good use of the Morsani’s superior acoustics…
The concert began with Francis Poulenc’s Gloria, an interesting pairing with Beethoven in a year the orchestra is emphasizing French and Russian composers. Introduced in 1961, the French composer’s piece reflects both his Catholicism and a cheerful defiance of convention. The orchestra reflected the change in tone as the composition shifts between a religious focus and Poulenc’s neo-classical influences, notably that of Igor Stravinsky. The highlight of the piece is an extended three-way conversation between Arias, the orchestra and the chorale.”
