Yesterday’s concert with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra was one of those times when you leave the hall with a lighter spring in your step, and the adrenaline is rushing through your veins.

Much of that was due to the exciting conducting of Rei Hotoda, who made her HSO debut yesterday. What I found so mesmerizing was her exciting and precise control of rhythm, especially important in the opening work, with its fusion of Japanese modalities and Taiko drumming rhythms. The principal flutist, Susan McGinn, was especially remarkable for making the flute part sound “Japanese” with its pitch bends. I don’t know how she did it!

The program was:

Toyama – Rhapsody for Orchestra
Debussy – Rhapsody for Clarinet & Orchestra
Weber – Concerto for Clarinet No. 2
Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade

I think that this was probably the first time that I heard Scheherazade live and the energy that Hotoda exerted was absolutely dynamic!

You knew that the orchestra liked her conducting, because when she motioned for them to stand to be recognized, they remained seated and started clapping for her.

Wow! Her energy seemed boundless!

At the pre-Concert Conversation, it was revealed that Rei Hotoda started her career as a pianist but not satisfied with 88 keys, decided to expand to conducting 88 musicians in an orchestra.

Born in Tokyo, Japan, she started playing piano when she was 3, and moved to Chicago when she was 7. She earned a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., and a doctorate in piano performance from the University of Southern California.

She is currently serving as the Music Director of the Fresno Philharmonic, and is widely considered one of America’s most sought after and dynamic artists. She has appeared as a guest conductor with many of today’s leading ensembles.

David Schifrin was the clarinet soloist and proved himself to be a true virtuoso. His breath control was absolutely amazing—he must have lungs of steel!

I can’t tell you how fortunate we are to have this orchestra in this town. The excellent musicianship of each of the principals was clearly evident in Scheherazade, which featured many solos, all performed brilliantly.

Jonathan Parrish, the orchestra’s Executive Director, announced that the $100,000 matching gift challenge deadline, has been extended to April 19th. I just gave, and hope you can too!

Here’s where to give: Hawaii Symphony Orchestra