Three Manhattan Bridges

Chronique

The two works on Michael Torke's 2016 release on Albany are full-scale concertos in which the conventions of the genre are reimagined through his distinctive post-minimalist style. Under the assertive patterns, energetic tempos, bright orchestration, and spicy harmonies that are hallmarks of Torke's music, there is a nostalgia for the heroism of the Romantic concerto, and the soloists are surely aware that they are protagonists in these dramatic performances. Joyce Yang is the piano soloist in Three Manhattan Bridges, and while the three movements are essentially paeans to the grandeur of the George Washington Bridge, the Queensboro Bridge, and the Brooklyn Bridge, her spectacular solo part is the center of attention. One might hear echoes of Gershwin and Ravel in this powerful showstopper, and Yang's brilliance is likely to stir listeners more than the program does. A more reflective and non-programmatic approach is taken in Winter's Tale, a concerto for cello and orchestra that evokes the elegiac side of late-Romantic concertos, while maintaining Torke's characteristic high energy. Julie Albers' intensely lyrical cello lines soar above the Albany Symphony Orchestra's vigorous accompaniment, and while their interchanges are lively, there is a poignant quality that suits the instrument and Torke's conception perfectly. David Alan Miller skillfully balances the orchestra with the soloists, giving them prominence but drawing out important details in the background that interlock with the solo parts.
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