Just returned from hearing Emmanuel Krivine conduct:
Mussorgsky-Dawn on The Moskva River
Shostakovich- VC1, (Leonidas Kavakos)
Berlioz-Royal Hunt and Storm from Les Troyens
Debussy-La Mer
Charles Dutoit was supposed to conduct, but since he is now what George Orwell labeled a Non Person, EK apparently was sent into the Chicago Breach.
I only knew EK as a bit of an HIPP specialist through his Beethoven cycle and I came away mightily impressed by his work in a program that was not of his choosing. The first thing one notices is the lighter textures and the clarity. I have actually heard the Shostakovich here several times and this was the first time that I realized that there are so many doubling of the Soloist line by the bassoon, Clarinet, horn or flute. I usually sounds like a heavy nightmare; here it was more of a light sleeper being constantly reawakened with recurring anxiety. Kavakos was generally excellent but failed to sound climactic in the cadenza at the end of III; when the Orchestra breaks in it sounded unfinished.
The lightening of textures particularly helped La Mer and it is always good to hear a warhorse revitalized.
Although I hated the circumstances of the Conducting substitution, most of all blaming Dutoit for inexcusably boorish behavior, from a Musical standpoint this was a boon. I’d love to hear Krivine conduct again
Mussorgsky-Dawn on The Moskva River
Shostakovich- VC1, (Leonidas Kavakos)
Berlioz-Royal Hunt and Storm from Les Troyens
Debussy-La Mer
Charles Dutoit was supposed to conduct, but since he is now what George Orwell labeled a Non Person, EK apparently was sent into the Chicago Breach.
I only knew EK as a bit of an HIPP specialist through his Beethoven cycle and I came away mightily impressed by his work in a program that was not of his choosing. The first thing one notices is the lighter textures and the clarity. I have actually heard the Shostakovich here several times and this was the first time that I realized that there are so many doubling of the Soloist line by the bassoon, Clarinet, horn or flute. I usually sounds like a heavy nightmare; here it was more of a light sleeper being constantly reawakened with recurring anxiety. Kavakos was generally excellent but failed to sound climactic in the cadenza at the end of III; when the Orchestra breaks in it sounded unfinished.
The lightening of textures particularly helped La Mer and it is always good to hear a warhorse revitalized.
Although I hated the circumstances of the Conducting substitution, most of all blaming Dutoit for inexcusably boorish behavior, from a Musical standpoint this was a boon. I’d love to hear Krivine conduct again
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