×MSO - Tai Murray and Stefan Asbury

Tai Murray (left) performs with Stefan Asbury (right)

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s May 30 concert was long. It felt especially long because most of the works had many movements. But what a program! Advertised as “Bernstein and Bartόk,” this banquet of music left me not just satisfied but impressed with the MSO, guest conductor Stefan Asbury, and violinist Tai Murray.

In Vyšehrad (The High Castle) from Bedrich Smetana’s Má vlast , principal harpist Julia Coronelli played the opening solo with sensitivity and shape. Stefan Asbury’s manner on the podium was clear, controlled, yet enthusiastic. He effected a grand spirit in the climaxes evoking festivals of ancient times. Strings were crisp in the contrapuntal sections, and I liked the dreamy

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