Awe inspiring, exhilarating are just two of many high-powered flatteries to bring this February's Kenosha Symphony Orchestra concert to life by mere words. A combination of the very new (2000), mid 20th Century (1953) and early l9th Century (1828) provided a most appreciative Reuther audience with an evening to cherish.

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich's Millenium Fantasy For Piano & Orchestra opened the program, a premier for Kenosha. Zwilich's scoring is highly complex, ranging from single woodwinds to great orchestral power, always a bit restrained. The piano features considerable activity well below middle C, massive bass tremolos, and delicate single note melodic lines. At one point in the second movement, the orchestra seems enveloped in a musical wave.

This premier performance sounded as if soloist Jeffrey Biegel, Maestra Burns, and the orchestra were giving a 21st performance, not a first — a fitting tribute to the very high grade professionalism on the stage. One dearly wishes this Zwilich work to be recorded as soon as possible.

Leroy Anderson's Piano Concerto in C (1953) can be characterized as in a very late romantic genre, broad color strokes, gentle lyricism, rich strings, full orchestral majesty. At one point a melodic line passes through three sections; other times there are faint echoes of Franz Liszt. Some of the third movement could almost be set to a ballet.

Jeffrey Biegel is a truly gifted pianist, worthy of any major orchestra. Kenosha's Reuther audience was quite privileged to hear such virtuosity.

Franz Schubert's massive, mighty Ninth Symphony closed the program. Maestra Burns and the KS0 gave us a powerful, crisp interpretation. The trombone section had one of its finest hours and was duly recognized (with others) afterward. Principal bassoonist Cathy Ann Springob received this year's special award for her service to the orchestra. A biographical sketch showed her life to be an heroic triumph of the human spirit.

The evening could also be considered a triumph for women in general — a very talented woman conductor, an amazingly gifted woman composer, and a very fine orchestra comprised of over 20 women in the chairs.

Editor's note: Letters are welcome. They can be sent to "Voice of the People," the Kenosha News, 715 58th St., Kenosha, Wl, 53141, or e-mailed to vop@kenoshanews.com.