Naples Philharmonic finishes off a full plate of new work, Beethoven and a Rachmaninoff swan song

Thursday night's performance of the Naples Philharmonic can be sliced into rants and raves. 

Right into the raves: the performances of Jeremy Denk, on the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3, and of the Naples Philharmonic, with guest conductor Arvo Volmer, on Rachmaninoff's "Symphonic Dances."

Denk is one of the finest pianists we've heard: clear, nuanced, sensitive to the orchestra he's with — or the partner, since he also teamed with harpist Hannah Lash on the premiere of her Double Concerto for Piano, Harp and Orchestra.

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All of his performance on Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 was a master class on it, including those hummingbird trills shot through the first movement, Ludwig's frisky rondo harmonics and crescendos that command attention without anvil hands. Denk is that rare pianist who can produce volume without beating up his instrument.

The Thursday audience at Artis—Naples recognized that with an unprecedented chorus of bravos and three ovations. Denk returned the compliment: After having already performed in two works, he offered an encore, a  spirited ragtime sendup of the overture to Wagner's "Tannhauser." It was way too much fun. 

The second half of the concert Thursday, Nov. 14,  (it's repeated Saturday, Nov. 16) was Rachmaninoff's last formal work, and both the orchestra and Volmer redefined gusto in its galloping opening segment. The new acoustics served them well, but we suspect they were going to envelop the hall with this sound in any case.

Part of Rachmaninoff's appeal is his ingenuity in putting surprising instruments to work in dramatic moments. An example in the 'Symphonic Dances" is turning the piano, here with an emphatic turn from Alexandra Carlson, into a bass statement. 

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There's also a tender, plaintive saxophone solo built in, beautifully played Thursday by Donald Rhynard. Some of the traditional instruments share the glory; co-concertmaster Glenn Basham offers a meditative take on its andante theme, and there are solo moments for almost all the woodwinds.

Those who know Rachnmaninoff for his "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini" will get some of the same thrills with this work's shifting moods and dynamics in the final segment. There's even another infusion of Rachmaninoff's favorite theme: the "Dies Irae" from the Roman Catholic funeral liturgy. It takes you where you should be going in this end-of life work for the composer. 

Now the rants: Putting a concerto title on Lash's new work. It has wonderful moments —  exciting segments for the orchestra, especially. But it is more of a layered piece to us, with separate reflections from orchestra and the piano-harp soloists, more than a concerto with any journey in sight. Do we have to call everything with strong solo instruments a concerto? It sets the audience up with the wrong expectations.

We also would have loved to have seen a departure from the synchronized, arpeggiated regimen of the piano and harp to focus on dialogue between the two instruments. And certainly two of the best players were here to do that, with Denk on the piano and Lash, a formidable harpist. 

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The strongest rant, however, is for the members of the audience who, once again, are beginning to scoot down the aisles and out the doors while the philharmonic is still standing for the applause.

This orchestra just boxed up and gift-wrapped some hefty Rachmaninoff for you and you turned your back on them. Would you want your guests calling, "Wonderful dinner, thanks," and heading for the coat rack with the dessert plates still on the table?

We didn't think so, either. 

Harriet Howard Heithaus covers arts and entertainment for the Naples Daily News/naplesnews.com. Reach her at 239-213-6091. 

If you go

Masterworks No. 2

Who: The Naples Philharmonic, with guest artists Hannah Lash, harpist/composer; Jeremy Denk, pianist; and Arvo Volmer, guest conductor

When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16; conductor's prelude, 7 p.m.

Where: Hayes Hall, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples 

Admission:  $15-$72

To buy: artisnaples.org, 239-597-1900 or at the box office