Conductor bows out in signature style
By Richard Dyer, Globe Staff |
May 17, 2005
CAMBRIDGE -- Allen Lannom's 53 seasons as conductor of the
Masterworks Chorale came to a close Saturday night with
roaring ovations, trumpet fanfares, floral deliveries, and
affectionate and respectful speeches. Tributes from Senator
John Kerry and President Bush had been arranged, and their
letters were read. But Lannom put first things first. The
evening began with a radiant performance of Brahms's
''German Requiem," led with affection, insight, and
unparalleled experience by the conductor, still vigorous at
88. The Chorale sang with poised tone, balance, and strong
emotion, and the orchestra, full of musicians who have
worked with Lannom for years, played its heart out. The
soloists were the majestic baritone Robert Honeysucker, who
has been singing with Lannom for 30 years, and soprano
Luellen Best, who has been singing for Lannom her whole life
(she's his daughter). Her solo is one of the most
challenging in the repertory, but she sang it with lovely
tone and line. Six other members of his family participated
in the performance, and many more were in the audience.
It
sounds as if Brahms is laying the foundation for the
universe in the big fugues, and Lannom and his musicians had
the full measure of them. But the most remarkable thing
about the performance of a work that is often shouted to
death was its refinement and intimacy; this was a very
personal response to the music. Fashions of interpretation
have radically changed over the last half-century, but
Lannom always remained true to his convictions and conducted
from the heart.
The extensive spoken tributes that followed the
performance resist summary, but they did highlight Lannom's
influence over generations of students, conductors, choral
singers, professional musicians, emerging soloists, and
music-loving audiences. The biggest laugh came from a former
singer who recalled Lannom's advice ''to sing [a certain
passage] as if you were celibate." Lannom's own remarks were
expressions of gratitude to his family and colleagues, but
the last word came from a poem he wrote, a tribute to the
power of music.
