NewsOK has whittled down our max length. I've always been a wordy writer, so economy is a much-needed exercise for me. However, this one was particularly challenging, given my mixed feelings and my desire to be completely honest. Keep in mind that I love this orchestra, so any criticism is in good faith and intended to be constructive.  I want to see the leadership make choices that serve the orchestra and its patrons well, and since I'm in a position to offer suggestions, I will. 

And if you think I'm too harsh, I'm a marshmallow compared with my late, great predecessor, Rick Rogers. :)
LM
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Review: OKC Phil show featured string of hits, misses
Published: Thu, January 31, 2019 5:00 AM
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Led by Alexander Mickelthwate, Saturday's Oklahoma City Philharmonic program “Independent Creativity” was an inconsistent hodgepodge, albeit an enjoyable and intriguing one.

"Narrative and Allusion in Friedrich Kuhlau's Introduction and Variations on Euryanthe for Flute and Piano, Op. 63." 

My dissertation examines the popular showpiece in relationship to the Music Drama that inspired it, uncovering a wealth of allusions and tonal symbolism.  In my own performance, I've found that exploring Kuhlau's model (Weber's Euryanthe) has profoundly influenced the way I approach the piece.  My research unearths the referential web of character-based motives woven throughout Kuhlau's work, without dictating any particular artistic interpretation to the performer.  I leave the decision-making to the artist, because that's the fun part!  Enjoy!
~LRM