German conductor-pianist Christoph Eschenbach returns as both soloist and conductor for Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 12, a work of chamber-musical understatement and surpassing elegance that Mozart wrote for his own Vienna performances in late 1782. On the other end of the symphonic scale is Bruckner's magisterial Symphony No. 9, a work left incomplete (in just three movements) at the composer's death in 1896. This cathedral-like symphony shows the continuing influence of Wagner in its harmonic language and scope, with the particular Austrian lyricism and gift for counterpoint for which Bruckner was known.(Emphasis added)
I was there for the Thursday performance and was figuratively blown away by the Mozart. It may be partly the heightened attention in the hall, but it was as if there were parts of the concerto I'd never heard before. I think it's at least in part because of the performance itself. I tried to get a standing ovation going for Eschenbach, but everybody else waited for the Bruckner. The Globe reviewer also found it remarkable. He and I were also pleased with the Bruckner. It was very satisfying, although I'll confess that maybe I hadn't got enough sleep the night before or taken a long enough nap that afternoon, because toward the end I became somewhat dozey.
You can hear for yourself with the concert broadcast/webstream over Classical New England beginning at 8:00 p.m., Boston Time, with the encore on January 27, also at 8:00 As with the other concerts, it will also be available on line for on demand listening. There's an interview with the maestro as well as a performance by him and oboist Keisuke Wakao of the BSO linked on CNE's BSO page.
Enjoy.
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