Music by the bay: A following of the fjords By Erik Eriksson News-Chronicle With Green Bay Symphony Orchestra Manager John Kelly recently gone, the orchestra and its music director Bridget-Michael Reischl faced a north wind Saturday night to present "Northern Lights," a program devoted to the music of Sibelius, Tchaikovsky and Grieg. The music, with the possible exception of the Sibelius Violin Concerto, is familiar to most audiences, though apparently not to this one. Sibelius represents a special case, belonging as he does to a small group of composers whose work divides itself into two distinct categories. First, there is the "occasion" music, such as "Finlandia" and the Karelia Suite. This is the Sibelius beloved of his countrymen, revered as one whose music is perfectly suited to open-door performance on a soft, fragrant summer's eve. Then, there is the private Sibelius who wrote some of the most magnificent symphonies of the past century - cold, foreboding and as imposing as a huge iceberg floating in the arctic sea. Saturday night, Reischl and her orchestra shared a work from each category. "Finlandia" is the secular hymn of Finland; it also has a place in the hymn books of many a denomination, albeit as a setting for different texts. The piece wants only uncompromising, forthright, heartfelt performance, one that allows its bold phrases space to ring out. Reischl declined to fiddle with the score, but instead invested it with all the honest simplicity it deserves. The orchestra, with brass arrayed in the long back row, played beautifully. Although the violin concerto belongs to the "serious" side of Sibelius, it's by no means off-putting. It is, however, often dense and full of difficulties for both orchestra and soloist. The solo artist for this performance was Ilmar Gavilan, whose appearances in this country have taken him before many of our major orchestras. Juilliard School of Music thinks highly enough of him to have invited him to teach at their prestigious institution. He proved himself a galvanizing player, if not always a tidy one. In the first movement, a few technical slips intruded as Gavilan snagged the string next to the one intended a few times and landed wide of the mark (or short) in intonation a number of times. Still, his damn-the-torpedoes approach was both exciting and true to the spirit of the work. By the measure in which the immense first movement cadenza had arrived, Gavilan's execution had steadied and he was able to concentrate on his ideas about the work. The second movement was full of expression from both soloist and orchestra, often very dark in emotion and intensity. The finale, likewise, stayed clear of an easy pathway. Gavilan dug into the notes with daemonic vigor and delivered an authentic realization of Sibelius's vision. After intermission, a conflation of Suites 1 and 2 from Edvard Grieg's "Peer Gynt" presented an effective "greatest hits" octet of numbers. The heightened measure of refinement Reischl has drawn from the orchestra counted for everything here. "In the Hall of the Mountain King" had full value of odd grandeur, but the lyric moments were magical. "Aose's Death" and "Solveig's Song" were rapturous in atmosphere, lovely in execution. Likewise, Reischl and the orchestra made much of a suite from Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake." More playing of both delicate and bold order with especially beautiful work from concertmistress Kin Chau and principal cellist Laura Kenney. One complaint: Many in the audience insisted on applauding after every section. Their gratitude is admirable, but the practice is distracting and poor concert etiquette. Save your enthusiasm for the end, please. YOUTH SYMPHONY The Green Bay Youth Symphony will offer two selections from its Fall 2002 recording session on Wisconsin Public Radio next month. The broadcast dates are April 2 at 2 p.m., featuring Mussorgsky's "Gopak" from "The Fair of Sorochinski," and April 3 at 7 p.m. when Mussorgsky's "A Night On Bald Mountain" will be heard. GBYSO CONCERTS Two GBSYO 35th Anniversary Concerts are scheduled for April. Sunday the 6th at 4 p.m. the String Orchestra, Philharmonia and Percussion Ensemble are featured in Holter Auditorium at Green Bay West High School, 435-3465. On Sunday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m., the Youth Symphony performs at the Meyer Theatre, downtown Green Bay. Call 1-800-328-8587 for tickets or phone 465-2217 for further details.