Yet another re-hashed programme from the MPO and Claus Peter Flor. This is especially true of the Glinka Russlan & Ludmilla Overture as well as Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. Perhaps the Ravel Left Hand Concerto was a relatively rare visitor to the DFP Hall - played by up and coming DFP debutant Alexandre Tharaud on 25 September 2010.
Despite hearing the Glinka many times in the DFP Hall, Flor's interpretation was briskly played but with much additional colour that was missing from previous showings. The second subject has much nuance and shaping and on the reprise, there were subtle dynamic shadings and colouring that made it sound different from its first appearance. A much enjoyable morsel.
Tharaud played Ravel's concerto magnificently. To play a piano with 2 hands is a difficult enough feat but to handle Ravel's one-handed piece (with parts that often sounds like 2 hands playing together) is magnificent - especially when superbly played by Frenchman Tharaud.
In the second half, we were treated to Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. Flor's interpretation was quite good but it did not seem to efface memories of Lorin Maazel's "one-night" stand with the MPO some years back. Now that was a truly excellent performance and the MPO almost sounded like the NYPO (Maazel's orchestra at that time).
Now a suggestion to the DFP Hall, Russian orchestral nights can comprise of so many other pieces (like Gliere's The Red Poppy, Kabalevsky's Violin Concerto and Third Piano Concerto, Shostakovich Second Piano Concerto, Khachaturian's Violin Concerto, etc - which all have not been played at DFP). But the DFP Hall chooses to re-hash their limited scores and dishes out "classical oldies" to the public. What happened to educating the public here about good music that is out there?
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