The Piano Concerto gave the woodwinds an opportunity to refine their blend and display expressive solos, an opportunity not well exploited. Too often the blend was uneven, the attack less than precise. The solos were adequate but, for the most part, less convincing than usual. It is possible that the concert came together better Saturday night, which sometimes happens after an off performance. It is also possible that the program simply reflected the unpredictabilities that are bound to crop up as the NMSO matures.
Human growth is never a straightforward process.
The mezzo-soprano was Janice Felty, substituting for Kathleen Clawson who was recovering from childbirth.