Friday, October 23, 2009Something for everyoneby William Guy BarastThis morning's concert by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra proved to be the perfect tonic for a dreary, rain-soaked Friday. The program was guaranteed to please, offering the perfect blend of the familiar and the less-well-known. On the menu: Barber's Essay No. 1 for Orchestra, Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 3 and Dvorak's bucolic Symphony No. 8. DSO Conducting Assistant Charles Greenwell was on the podium. Barber's Essay No. 1 for Orchestra set the tone for the first half of the program. Dramatic yet understated, this compact, ruminative work has a uniquely taut, brooding, "American" feel. The DSO knows Barber's Three Essays well, having recorded them under Neeme Järvi for Chandos in the mid-1990's. That familiarity was apparent today, with Maestro Greenwell leading the DSO in a performance that captured the dramatic spirit of the work while allowing Barber's ravishingly beautiful orchestration to shine. Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 was given an heroic performance by Russian pianist Kirill Gerstein, whose big, bold tone and penchant for breakneck tempi made for an exhilarating experience. This finger-busting work is one of the titans of the piano concerto repertoire, typically clocking in at around 45 minutes. Mr. Gerstein's performance must surely have come in a bit under that mark but left absolutely nothing wanting along the way. Soloist, conductor and orchestra worked as one, bringing the audience to their feet after the final crashing chords (which (deliberately?) mirror the syllables of the composer’s last name: Rach-man-in-off!). Dvorak's Symphony No. 8 filled the second half of the program with the lilting sounds of the Bohemian countryside. Maestro Greenwell led the DSO in a performance that was both spacious and sensitive. Especially enjoyable were the interplay between the dark-hued clarinets and the flute in the second movement and the slightly slower, more pensive return of the lovely waltz theme in the third movement. The fourth movement brought a rousing finish with the brass having loads of fun. Since the audience seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves, Maestro Greenwell asked if they'd like an encore. Their sounds of approval brought forth a polished performance of Dvorak's Slavonic Dance Op. 46, No. 6. It may have been raining outside, but after this encore there was plenty of Bohemian sunshine inside Orchestra Hall! Speaking of our dear Orchestra Hall, she turned 90 yesterday. Kirill Gerstein turned 30 today, and it was he who gave us a gift. What a day. Two more performances follow this weekend, Saturday evening at 8:30 and Sunday at 3:00. Don't miss out! Labels: Reviews, William Guy Barast |
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