A narrow, 25-year slice of music history made for an unexpectedly rich and exciting concert as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra presented works by Joseph Haydn and Ludwig van Beethoven at Roy Thomson Hall on Saturday night.
This is a journey back to the origins of the modern symphony in the 18th century, with Haydn representing the ideal, sonata-like form with its introduction and development of themes, followed by a slower movement, a minuet or scherzo and then a finale. Beethoven then came along and twisted to rules to suit his purposes, opening a path to 19th century Romanticism.
For leadership, the Toronto Symphony called on Quebecer Bernard Labadie, who has become an authority on achieving historically informed performance styles with modern instruments.
The result was period-performance-style clarity, rich texture and rhythmic vitality conveyed with the wider expressive possibilities of modern instruments and bows.
It was a truly enjoyable concert that included driven, warm yet highly detailed performances of Haydn’s “Clock” Symphony (No. 101, in D Major) and the much-loved Piano Concerto No. 11, which shares the same key and sunny disposition (although the concerto predates the London-written symphony by a decade).
Labadie had honed so many small details of the orchestra’s playing without losing the freshness of the evening’s performance.
French pianist Alexandre Tharaud brought along a silken touch, witty execution and a clear love for the music to the solo role for his Toronto Symphony début. He was also in constant contact with the conductor, making for a satisfyingly unified performance between soloist and orchestra.
The concert’s second half was given over to a vivid interpretation of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1, which dates from 1800. It made the perfect doorway where we could travel from the Classical order of Haydn into the expressive explosions due in the decades to come.
If there’s one word to describe the evening as a whole, it would be vitality — something that always contributes to a great night at the symphony.
The programme repeats at the more intimate George Weston Recital Hall on Sunday afternoon, an even finer place for 50-odd eager orchestral musicians and their guests to show off their art. You’ll find concert and ticket details here.
John Terauds