Philadelphia Orchestra Performs Classics & Contemporary at Carnegie

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Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Reviews

Published on Thursday, 11 November 2021 15:33

Written by Jack Angstreich

Philadelphia Orchestra with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, photo by Pete Checchia

On the evening of Tuesday, November 9th at Carnegie Hall, I had the great privilege to again hear the superb Philadelphia Orchestra, under the sterling direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, in the latest, exciting installment of their impressive cycle this season of the complete symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven.

The program began beautifully with a marvelous account of the undervalued Eighth Symphony. The opening Allegro vivace was brisk, ebullient and sometimes suspenseful. More irrepressible was the Haydnesque wit of the second movement, while the third was lilting in its dance-like rhythms, leading into a spirited, indeed exuberant, finale.

The excellent Fate Now Conquers by contemporary composer Carlos Simon—which cites Beethoven’s Fourth and Seventh Symphonies and is notable for its accomplished orchestration—served as a compelling interlude between the two major works of the concert, the second of which was that extraordinary Seventh Symphony, splendidly realized here. Nézet-Séguin and the musicians effectively struck a note of grandeur the introduction preceding the exultant, Vivace main body of the opening movement. The justly celebrated Allegretto that followed was magisterial succeeded by a Scherzo with arresting Presto sections alternating with enchanting Trio passages, concluding with a triumphant Allegro con brio finale. I eagerly look forward to the next program in the series on December 7th.

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