Brilliant Bavouzet, slowish Mahler

Having previously been impressed by Jean-Efflam Bavouzet's last outing here in KL (Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto), I approached this concert of Haydn's D major Piano Concerto with excitement on 26 October. In most part, the playing was generally very fine in the outer movements - played with sprightly tempos. The most beautiful portion of the concerto was the slow movement that was played with a lyrical grace and a lovely singing tone. The audience gave him a sustained ovation and he delighted them with an unusual encore, played in a "moto perpetuo" mode. I duly went out for the interval before the Mahler Fifth Symphony that was programmed. Then, Bavouzet emerged with MPO general manger Timothy Tsukamoto. I could not resist the temptation to ask Bavouzet what his encore was. He politely replied that it was Massenet's Toccata which he recorded for Chandos (on CHSA5084). It was really great that he chose an unusual encore to delight the KL audience. In the second half, Claus Peter Flor conducted a "slowish" interpretation of Mahler's Fifth Symphony. In parts, the slowish tempos worked well (like the Funeral March of the first movement) but speeds then tended to drag in the Adagietto. The current performance practice is now to play the fourth movement in a more flowing manner. All in all, it was a satisfying night with the principal horn and trumpet players taking loud and deserved applause for the superb renditions of their solos in the Mahler. Again, I do feel that the MPO can programme unusual works rather than repeat pieces like the Haydn Concerto and Mahler Symphony, which have been heard time and again in the DFP Hall. How about inviting Bavouzet to perform d'Indy's "Symphonie sur un chant montagnard francais Op 25" instead? Now, that would be some first half of a concert in my opinion.