This is the sort of imaginative programming that I would expect from the DFP and the MPO's music director. Unfortunately, we had been given about 3 years of mediocre programming from the previous incumbent - Matthias Bamert. It needed former MD Kees Bakels to devise a concert programme that I had always dreamt about - 2 musical takes of Cinderella, framing another piece. The opener was Rossini's La Cenerentola Overture, played with gusto and great care over dynamic shading (especially the repeated echoing passages).
Nikolai Znaider, a rising prince of younger concertizing violinists, made his DFP debut in Mozart's Violin Concerto No 1 K 207 (which received its premiere at DFP too). This was very beautiful playing indeed from Znaider who was performing on the ex-Kreisler Guarneri del Gesu. Golden rich tones enveloped the hall, with clear definition of detache, spiccato and legato from Znaider's lovely bow arm. There were 2 instances of poor orchestral co-ordination from the MPO & Bakels (a false entry after the cadenza and an oboe solo that went off-key from Joost Flach). Otherwise, it was a superbly conceived performance. The audience gave Znaider a long and rapturous rhythmic applause (normally reserved for artists like Kavakos and Volodos) and he obliged by playing JS Bach's Sarabande (from the BWV1004 Solo Partita).
After the interval, we were treated to some fine dramatic playing from the MPO and Bakels in selections from Prokofiev's Cinderella. We are blessed with fine acoustics at the DFP and this is the sort of piece that stands out in our wonderful hall. As an encore in keeping with the Cinderella theme, Bakels offered us yet another take on the Cinderella theme - the midnight scene from Massenet's Cendrillon. This was simply magnificent programming and a superb concert - thanks to maestro Bakels!
No comments:
Post a Comment