Maryland's Classical Music Station

Tortelier and the BSO

What an interesting program Yan Pascal Tortelier conducted with the BSO this weekend! For one thing, I was struck by the fact that he didn’t have any French music in the line-up. Then, it was so unusual for him to start with the symphony, and have the concerto and overture (in that order!) after the intermission – a delightfully “upside-down” program.

It looked to me as if his beat would be hard to follow as an orchestra player, but the BSO responded wonderfully well to him, and the way they handled the restrained yet powerful climaxes in the Sibelius 5th Symphony was very stirring in the hall. Those final, six chords really only work well when they are performed live in the concert hall, and everyone in the room – orchestra and audience alike – is waiting for the next iteration.

I had never heard Elgar’s concert overture, In the South (Alassio), live before. It’s a work that really should be played on the concert platform more, I think. It was a really effective way to end a satisfying concert. And bravo to Richard Field for a lovely viola solo.

Tags:Baltimore Symphony