Download Apr. 25, 2007 - Ryan Anthony

Neighbors
by Ann Butler
April 25, 2007
Anyone who thinks classical music can be a bit stodgy would have changed his or her mind after the San
Juan Symphony's performance Saturday night at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
It was the final of three concerts this season, where the theme has been "Passport to Sensations and
Destinations."
The guest soloist was trumpeter Ryan Anthony. I have to admit I'm not generally a big fan of the trumpet.
The brass instrument is generally, well, a little too brassy for me. But Anthony was a revelation. The fluidity
and tone of his trumpet ranged from the triumphant to the poignant on Armenian composer Arutunian's
Trumpet Concerto.
Durango can tend to be a little too generous with standing ovations. But the audience leapt to its feet for
Anthony, and he deserved every minute of the applause.
And I have never seen a musician have so much fun on stage. Anthony had a big grin on his face as he
listened to the orchestra and clearly loved every note he played. He also shone on Tchaikovsky's
"Neapolitan Dance" from "Swan Lake."
The concert ended with two pieces. The first was Griffes' "The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan," a new piece
for me, but one I will want to hear again. The excerpts of Khachaturian's ballet "Spartacus and Phrygia"
provided both drama and romance in a finale that left the audience rushing to book a trip to Istanbul.