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Chris King of The St. Louis American reviewed the world premiere of Yoell Tewolde’s waves on the shore, which was performed as part of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra‘s “Live at the Sheldon” series on April 24 at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis.
Here’s what King wrote about Tewolde, waves on the shore, and the MNMI.
One of the many joys of the Live at the Sheldon series is that these concerts feature the world premiere of a student composition through a collaboration with the Mizzou New Music Initiative. This concert featured the world premiere of waves on the shore for piano and wind quintet by Yoell Tewolde, so youthful he looked quite literally like a kid at a candy store as this sextet delivered a subtle, supple, dexterous and resonant premiere of his musical reflections on ocean waves he glimpsed in Eritrea.
This kid wrote tasty parts for all six players. Andrews leaned in on clarinet like he was having fun playing fresh material. Julia Paine on bassoon was a revelation. Andrews co-curated the very first Live at the Sheldon concert with principal bassoon Andrew Cuneo, who – because of his talent, not any bombast – tends to suck all the air out of the bassoon section. I will be looking and listening for Paine from now on.
Co-curator Dirks paid this embryonic composer the highest compliment one could hope for from the principal chair at a world-class symphony: “If you write another one with oboe, let me know!”
You can read the review in its entirety here.
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