South Florida Classical Review

Conductor Domingo Hindoyan led the New World Symphony in a program featuring Antonin Dvořák’s familiar New World Symphony (no relation). Sunday’s concert was masterfully executed, even if the assemblage of works left the concert at times feeling disjointed. Despite this, Hindoyan’s superb leadership was striking, and he was met by an orchestra in peak form.

The concert opened with a wonderful work by Rene Orth, entitled Chasing Light. Lasting only four minutes, the piece did not have the space to expound on any complex ideas, but it created a sensational effect, especially under conducting fellow Ziwei Ma’s tight direction. The colorfully scored music, inspired by Orth’s experience with electronic processing, captures the frantic feeling provoked by “deadlines, stress, and pressure.” It was accompanied by diaphanous abstract visuals resembling wisps of smoke projected onto the Frank Gehry-designed panels suspended above the hall.

Cellist Alban Gerhardt was the featured soloist for Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 126. This is a fascinating work, less frequently performed than the composer’s First Cello Concerto, but considerably more abstract and poignant in its conception. 

Gerhardt displayed remarkable technical mastery and his musky cello tone suited the autumnal mood of the concerto with Shostakovich’s signature moments of humor. However, the gravelly timbre didn’t always speak clearly above the orchestra. When his tone could be heard, it was impressive to see his control over the instrument, particularly in the tuning of the work’s labyrinthine networks of double-stops. 

The most memorable moments in the concerto came from members of the orchestra—in particular a trio of bassoons including fellows Matthew Matheny and Michael Quigley, and a duet of horns played by Abigail Davidson and Logan Fischer. Hindoyan’s measured pacing gave cohesion to the sprawling work, allowing its captivating idiosyncrasies to emerge.

Dvořák premiered his Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 at Carnegie Hall in 1893. As a vague inspiration for the work, Dvořák cited Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem The Song of Hiawatha. He filled the symphony with newly composed melodies intended to evoke an imagined Native American history, though it is still steeped in the spirit of his native rural Bohemia.

More than anything, the symphony gave Hindoyan, who conducted from memory, the perfect chance to display his craft as a conductor. The Venezuela-born conductor used a remarkable economy of gesture to extract dazzling brilliance and refinement from the ensemble. He showed a charming, charismatic presence on stage, displaying authority and precision.

In the first movement, he played to the work’s strengths, prioritizing Dvořák’s architectural ingenuity and lyricism. Andrew Port’s English horn solo in the second movement was a highlight, his rich sustained tone bestowing the spiritual-inspired melody with expressive dignity, eschewing superficial sentimentality. 

After the brilliantly played scherzo, the dramatic finale showed the New World members in top shape, with a high level of coordination and balance. The solid, steely brass lines crowned the performance without ever feeling excessive.

Carlos Miguel Prieto leads the New World Symphony 7:30 p.m. November 22 and 2 p.m. November 23 in a program that includes violinist Karen Gomyo in Bernstein’s Serenade and music of Ginastera, Castellanos and Contreras. nws.edu

Posted in Performances

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One Response to “Hindoyan makes impressive stand with New World Symphony”

1. Posted Nov 18, 2025 at 10:36 pm by Robert Nowak

   Cellist Alban Gerhardt, who played Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto with wonderful precision, joined the orchestra, quietly hidden in the back, with the fellows, for the Dvorak on Saturday night and the Sunday matinee, which I attended. I didn’t notice him until halfway through the New World Symphony and when I did I felt additional respect for him. He echos MTT’s commitment to young musicians in Europe and demonstrated this here by sticking around to play with them for both concerts.

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