Music Review: Philadelphia Orchestra at Carnegie Hall

Details: Parent Category: Film and the Arts; Category: Reviews; Published on Saturday, 05 March 2011 06:00; Written by Jack Angstreich

The great Philadelphia Orchestra sounded superb under the direction of Charles Dutoit at a concert given at Carnegie Hall on the evening of Tuesday, March 1st, 2011. The program opened with an electric account of the exuberant Overture to Béatrice et Bénédict by Hector Berlioz.

Following this, soloist Vadim Repin joined the ensemble to give a bravura performance of the New York premiere of James MacMillan's somewhat rambling Violin Concerto. Characterized by brilliant orchestral writing throughout -- receiving full justice here by Dutoit and his musicians -- and with many thrilling passages -- especially in the faster, outer movements -- this work seemed, like innumerable post Classical-era concerti, more interesting as a potential symphony than as a concerto.

The supreme event of the evening was the magnificent performance -- indeed, the finest I have yet heard -- of the gorgeous, haunting Tchaikovsky Fifth Symphony, which closed the program. The ensemble played with inestimable transparency and Dutoit brought out all the soaring romanticism (and Romanticism) -- as well as all the breathless excitement -- of this achingly beautiful work -- it was a stunning experience.

Performers

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Charles Dutoit, Chief Conductor

Vadim Repin, Violin

Program

Overture to Béatrice et Bénédict by HECTOR BERLIOZ

Violin Concerto (NY Premiere)by JAMES MACMILLAN

Symphony No. 5 by PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY

Carnegie Hall
881 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
212-247-7800