KSO combines cowboy and holiday spirit in tribute to Mary Lewis Kleberg

In a loving tribute to one of South Texas’ great women, the Kingsville Symphony Orchestra and the Corpus Christi Cathedral Choirs joined to present the King Ranch Holiday Spectacular, a delightful combination of American western and holiday themes.

Following the “Star Spangled Banner,” arranged by TAMUK music professor Greg Sanders and conducted by TAMUK music professor Yutaka Kono, the baton was passed to guest conductor for the day, Lee Gwozdz, director of music at Corpus Christi Cathedral.

Entering the stage dressed in chaps and wearing a tengallon hat, Gwozdz rode a hobby horse to the whoops and cheers of the audience. As an indication of his stage presence and rapport with the audience, Gwozdz had the audience whooping in a standing ovation even before he directed his first selection. He then led the orchestra in Franz Waxman’s “The Furies Suite,” a western themed piece, punctuated by vibrant horns.

Western strength and determination framed the tribute piece to Mary Lewis Kleberg using the Main Theme from the Lonesome Dove television series.

Poignant scenes of Mrs. Kleberg’s life with family in South Texas were projected simultaneously on the walls of the auditorium during this emotional rendition. Another standing ovation followed.

Two well known and much loved classical pieces followed. The familiar “Les Toreadors” and “Danse Boheme” from Bizet’s opera Carmen, accented by flute, oboe, and French horn solos, transported the audience to an exotic Spanish bullfighting milieu.

The orchestra then performed a contrasting piece, Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Air on a G String.”

This soothingly beautiful work from Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 featured the orchestra’s outstanding thirtyfive member string section.

The violinists then transformed into “fiddlers” for Ervin T. Rouse’s rousing “Orange Blossom Special,” during which conductor Gwodz had the audience making train whistle sounds and clapping along as the traditional western portion of the program fittingly ended.

The Corpus Christi Cathedral Pontifical and Youth Chorales, numbering 111 of their 130 members and under the direction of Gwodz and assistant director Guadalupe Rivera Jr., took to the stage as the orchestra trumpeted a driving rendition of the traditional “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” which served as introduction to the choral holiday celebration portion of the program.

The audience was then treated to a special world premier performance of the Nigerian Christmas song, “Betelehemu.”

This “a cappella” piece, accompanied only by percussion provided by drums and hand-clapping of the choir, was a delightfully unusual contribution to the Christmas theme and lent an international flavor to the performance.

Following their renditions of the majestically arranged “Carol to the King” and the traditional Christmas lullaby “Away in a Manger,” the choirs tolled the festively exuberant “Carol of the Bells,” which featured members of the Cathedral Handbell Choir in an outstanding performance.

Conductor Gwodz, with little coaxing, got the audience to join in the Fa La La’s for what we thought would be the concert’s final carol, “Deck the Halls,” only to be treated to an encore piece: “Grace,” the familiar “Amazing Grace” lyrics set to the lovely tune of the 17th-century Scottish folk song “O Waly, Waly.”

KSO’s final concert of 2009 was the best attended of the year; Jones Auditorium was nearly full. The lively pace of the performances (14 selections in about 90 minutes with no intermission) -- combined with Gwozdz’s masterful comments, sense of humor, and ability to engage the audience’s participation in several of the selections -- made for a thoroughly delightful concert experience.

A ten-gallon hats off to the King Ranch Family Trust, the Robert J. Kleberg Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation, and Kleberg Bank for sponsoring the event.

KSO’s next concert is scheduled for Sunday, February 7, 2010, at 3 p.m., in the H.M. King High School auditorium.