The last Tuesday evening concert in the classical series presented by the Portland Symphony Orchestra took place on the 21st at Merrill Auditorium before a near capacity audience. The concert marked the end of the seventh year of Robert Moody as conductor and music director of the orchestra.

(There is, however, another concert featuring all the living conductors of the orchestra that is scheduled for May 2 marking completion of the 90th year of the orchestra.) There were two works performed at this concert featuring the number seven, and indeed it turned out to be a lucky number for all concerned.

The program began with a performance of the Seven Deadly Sins, a ballet with song by Kurt Weill that featured Storm Large as soloist with a male quartet called Hudson Shad.

Weill is probably the most underrated 20th century composer in my opinion, probably because his music straddles the boundaries between popular (commercial) music and operatic music. Among his pop hits were songs like “September Song” and “Mack the Knife;” many successful Broadway shows as well as background music to many Hollywood films. What many forget is that he also is the composer of many operas as well as many superb orchestral works.

The work performed at this concert featured a svelte, really attractive blonde soloist who could shimmy as well as sing up a large storm. (Sorry) She was assisted by a quartet of superb male singers collectively known as Hudson Shad. The members of the quartet in-clude the following: Mark Bleeke, tenor; Eric Ed-lund, baritone; Peter Becker Bass/Bari-tone and Wilbur Pauley, bass.

Mr. Moody demonstrated (again) that he was just as at ease and accomplished accompanying voices as well as instrumental soloists. The performance by all concerned was convincingly brilliant. Even though Ms. Larges’ diction was excellent, I wish the text would have been flashed across a screen. Don Rankin, tuba joined the usual suspects (first desk players) who were acknowledged following the conclusion of this work composed in 1933. It did not sound dated at all to me.

Following intermission, Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony was performed. Oh my, was it ever.

A more taut and yet emotional rendition one would have to go far and wide to hear. The members of the orchestra seemed to outdo themselves in this performance. Let me count some of the ways:

The timpani playing of John Tanzer was outstanding. Joining principal horn John Boden was Nickolas Rubinstein. Richard Wagner may have described this symphony as “the apotheosis of the dance.” To my way of thinking it could also be described as the horn symphony. This duo made light of the demands of the high notes at the end of the first movement, were magnificent in the second, played the crucial exposed low notes in the third, and did more than keep pace in the last. Well done. The violas and cellos outdid themselves in the second, the bass section made the wonderful crescendo possible in the last; the wind section (pairs of flutes, oboes, clarinets and bassoons,) especially the solo winds, played ever so musically, and I do not wish to forget the pair of trumpets with their precise rhythms particularly in the last movement. The violins led by Charles Dimmick responded to every nuance of conductor Moody.

He took the trio of the scherzo somewhat slower but the result was a sonorous, expressive and singing rendition. Lastly, one has got to give credit where credit is due, namely to Robert Moody. He was brilliant that night. He really knew his music and gave a masterly account of himself. There were shouts of “Bravo” barely after the last note was sounded. But then, I have found myself reporting this all season.

I noted this following his reading of Mahler’s 1st Symphony at the start of his tenure. After acknowledging the ovation and asking the solo players to rise, then the full orchestra, he left the stage in order for the orchestra to receive the plaudits they richly deserved. Onwards and upwards. Well done.

The concert will be broadcast on Maine Public Broadcasting Network radio station on May 6.

— Dr. Morton Gold is a composer/conductor and an arts reviewer for the Journal Tribune.