Interview Articles - Marlin Wolfe

Marlin Wolfe - Artistic Director, Vancouver Island Symphony

An interview article by Rosemary Phillips, June 2003

Marlin Wolfe, artistic director of the Vancouver Island Symphony, sat back in his home on Gabriola Island to talk about the exciting music and special guests for the upcoming VIS season, “Explore the Sound.” To begin the “exploration” of the season’s music, some research was done into the pieces and their composers, from Brahms and his rousing “Academic Festival Overture” through to the Fire and Ice of Sibelius and “Violin Concerto Op. 47 in D minor.”

Explore the Sound - the VIS 2003-2004 season

Explore: to examine by going through it. Investigate. Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes come to mind - investigators, sleuthing to get at the real story, to understand. So armed with magnifying glass, and compass (baton), Maestro Marlin Wolfe will be directing the Vancouver Island Symphony and leading the audience through the mystery and magic of music with the 2003-2004 season’s program aptly titled Explore the Sound.

“There are so many avenues of exploration,” explained Wolfe. “I want to delve into the different sounds of music that we are presenting throughout the year, the different types of music. Each concert title explains the expression of the sound, the music. They all have a different pace a different feeling.”

From the Great Classics to Classical Pops there will be sleuthing and intrigue for the seasoned concert-goer, and for those not so familiar, an investigative door opening to the magic and passion of orchestral music.

“To explore is to search, to get to the reality. In this case, the music,” explained Wolfe. “When you explore you are looking for something.”

Great Expressions - Brahms, Chopin and Rimsky-Korsakov

What better way to begin the search than with the rousing “Academic Festival Overture” by Johannes Brahms for Great Expressions on Oct. 18. Sounds heavy? Far from it. When the professors of Brelau University conferred upon Brahms (1833-1847) an honorary degree, in absentia, on the man they described as, “First amongst contemporary masters of serious music,” they politely suggested he might write a suitably academic “doctoral symphony” for the occasion. Brahms took himself a lot less seriously than did his followers. The “Academic Festival Overture” turned out to be one big musical leg-pull, using three student songs in this larger-than-usual orchestration, and closing with the unexpected and unexpectedly unbuttoned appearance of “Gaudeamus Igitur” (Let us rejoice therefore while we are young).

Not surprising then that Wolfe’s next choice is Piano Concerto no. 2, composed the year Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849) graduated from the Warsaw Conservatory. “Chopin is so totally full of expression,” said Wolfe. He earned the nickname “Poet of the Piano”, for he could make the piano “sing”, and to bring about that feeling from the concerto the VIS is welcoming back Angela Cheng, one of Canada’s most gifted pianists.

It’s then off across seas and time with Russian sailor-composer Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) to explore the palace of the Sultan and the sweeping music of “Scheherazade” and 1001 Tales of the Arabian Nights. “It’s a major work,” explained Wolfe. “And there’s a big violin solo which will be played by our concertmaster Calvin Dyck.”

Tango Paradiso

From tales to Tango. Joining the VIS on stage at the Port Theatre on Nov. 22 for this dramatic evening are Tango Paradiso, an exciting and vibrant ensemble presenting the classic Argentinean tango instrumentation of bandoneon, violin, guitar and bass. “Here we explore the passion of the tango,” added Wolfe “The music has a different structural sound, rhythm and harmonies.”

Joining Tango Paradiso will be authentic Tango dancers Semeral Tuncer and Elaine Carson. Feet will tap and hearts will soar as the intimate and authentic sounds of tango classics by Astor Piazzola and original compositions by Tango Paradiso permeate the theatre.

Michael Hope, singer - Christmas Memories

“Each year we try to do different shows at Christmas,” continued Wolfe. “This year (Dec. 19, 2003) we have invited baritone Michael Hope. He has a complete Christmas program with holiday favourites from ‘Winter Wonderland’, and ‘White Christmas’ to ‘Oh Holy Night’. He draws the audience in to what he is doing. It will be a wonderful show.”

Amadeus “Wolfee” Mozart - Jamie Parker, piano - Calvin Dyck, violin - Rhoslyn Jones, soprano

And did you know that Amadeus means love? This helps explain why Maestro Wolfe has chosen an Amadeus “Wolfee” Mozart program for Feb. 14. “It’s a Valentine’s concert, exploring the many magical sounds of Mozart (1756-1791). Most of the pieces in this program were done for movies at one time or other, from the romantic Alvira Madigan (1967) to Amadeus. The name Wolfee was popularized with the movie Amadeus. We will have Wolfee present (in the form of an actor) for this concert to help us relive the composer’s inner thoughts.”

The program begins with the overture to the Marriage of Figaro, one of Mozart’s three comic operas. Then imagine the master composer hunched over paper, quill pen in hand, scribbling away by candlelight at the Adagio and Rondo for violin, here brought to life by concertmaster Calvin Dyck. Brilliant Canadian pianist Jamie Parker then takes to centre stage to present the sublime delights of Piano Concerto No. 21 (Alvira Madigan) and soprano Rhoslyn Jones will spellbind with her singing of the Exultate Jubilate, penned in Milan by a seventeen-year-old Wolfee in 1773. And finally, the Symphony No. 35 (Haffner), written over a matter of weeks for the burgomaster’s annoblement, sections sent piecemeal by post. Wolfee missed his deadline. After reworking the piece, in an ironical note to his father Leopold he said, “My new Haffner symphony has positively amazed me, for I had forgotten every single note of it. It must surely produce a good effect.”

The Virtuoso - Jens Lindemann, trumpet

Next we explore virtuosity with The Virtuoso on March 6. Maestro Wolfe opens the concert with “The Tempest”, written by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) on a late summer holiday (1873) while wandering in the forest and at night sitting by his window listening to the silence - a definite explorer’s voyage over sea to Shakespeare’s magical island.

And for true virtuosity, virtuoso trumpet with Jens Lindemann. “He may be one of the top trumpet players in the world right now,” added Wolfe. “When you hear him play you will know why. I have known him through his performances with the Canadian Brass and wonderful recording of Shostakovich’s ‘Piano concert #1’ with Angela Cheng. We are in for a real treat.”

The treat is “Trumpet Concerto in E major” by Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837), a work written in 1803 for Anton Weidinger, inventor of the keyed trumpet. Lindemann then performs “Rising Sun” by Allen Vizzutti who writes on a melodic line for classical and jazz orchestra of all sizes and types. “This is more modern for chamber music,” added Wolfe. “Throughout the concerto Lindemann plays various trumpets.”

The final virtuosity is “Symphony No. 9” by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) written at the end of World War II. “This is one of those symphonies where he shows the sign of light.” Shostakovich lost favour with Stalin over this piece. Instead of an “Apotheosis to Stalin” who wanted an inspiring 9th to celebrate in the manner of Beethoven’s 9th, Shostakovich’s 9th contains five short, cynical movements, which, despite serious moments, are light and cheeky.

Fire and Ice - guest artist Suzanne Hou, violin

Now to the concluding concert of Explore the Sound on May 1 - Fire and Ice. The VIS opens with the overture to The Bartered Bride, the best known of Bedrich Smetana’s (1824-1884) operas. The overture makes a brilliant opening to any orchestral concert program. Here the VIS sets the tone of joyful, optimistic Czech music, with inevitable drama.

Then from the past to the present and the world premier performance of a Symphony by Patrick Carpenter. “It is an exciting combination of sound and texture. Carpenter teaches at Malaspina College and is a registered Canadian composer,” explained Wolfe. “He has composed for different Canadian orchestras and has been broadcast on CBC radio. This is a neo-classical piece composed specifically for the VIS.”

And for the grand finale, “Violin Concerto in D minor” by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) performed by one of today’s leading violinists, Suzanne Hou. “This is the Fire and Ice - the fire being Sibelius, the ice being Finland where it was composed. Sibelius wrote some wonderful concertos and they have all the elements in them - hot themes and cold technique, meaning that it is precise technique.”

Sibelius, a violinist himself, couldn’t play his own concerto - unfortunately neither could anyone else. So he revised his 1903 concerto in 1905 to the version heard today. Hou will be bringing her flawless technique to the piece, which explores mountains and scenic splendour in music. What a way to end the season - exploring, looking for more.

“Pops in the Harbour” CD by the Vancouver Island Symphony

And speaking of exploring - this writer has been experiencing new areas of this beautiful province accompanied by the Vancouver Island Symphony’s “Pops in the Harbour” CD. As my van winds its way around rugged terrain, alongside majestic lakes, over breathless mountain-tops the VIS is there, winding and turning in time with the road, surging with Nature’s beauty, bringing an even greater depth to the experience. My heart soars.

More information on Marlin Wolfe, and the Explore the Sound season can be obtained through the Vancouver Island Symphony.

Follow this link to read an article on Marlin Wolfe, Conductor of the Vancouver Island Symphony, - On the road to recovery after a milk stroke he had while conducting the "Nutcracker" in December 2001.

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