Andris Nelsons and the BSO are joined by the firebrand Chinese pianist Yuja Wang for Schumann's Piano Concerto, a work blending the composer's unique Romantic lyricism and brilliance. The concerto began as a single-movement Fantasia written for his wife Clara, who was considered one of the great virtuosos of the age. Bruckner's magisterial Symphony No. 9, a work left just short of completion at the composer's death in 1896, shows the continuing influence of Wagner in its harmonic language and scope, with the particular Austrian grace and gift for counterpoint for which Bruckner was known.(Emphasis added.)
I was there on Thursday and found it all worth hearing. I had been afraid I'd get tired of the Bruckner because of its length, but it held my interest. The Schumann was very pleasant.
The reviewers had different reactions, especially to the Bruckner. The Globe reviewer liked the Schumann concerto's backstory, the music, and, in general, the performance — just the thing for St. Valentine's Day. She clearly is not fond of the Bruckner symphony, but thought that Nelsons and the orchestra performed it very well. On the other had, in the Musical Intelligencer the reviewer finds that Nelsons conducted the Bruckner very poorly., while the Schumann was satisfactory. I think you'd have to be more familiar than I am with the symphony to be aware of the things the reviewer is complaining about in Nelsons' approach.
So my recommendation is to just enjoy the music for what it is: a lovely concerto followed by a great big soundfest with lots of brass. WCRB, 8:00 p.m. EST repeated on February 25. (Last week's Wilson, Szymanowski, and Copland will be rebroadcast this coming Monday, the 18th.)
Enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment