Orchestras are like clay that a fine conductor can mould into different shapes — seductive, striking, sometimes shocking. On Wednesday night, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra revealed itself to be fine porcelain — translucent yet smooth, light and incredibly strong.
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
The master at the wheel was French conductor Stéphane Denève who has been a regular source of surprise and delight at this podium for nearly a decade now.
He came bearing an all-French programme, delivered with iron control as well as considerable panache. This may be a largely English-speaking city, but the sound in Roy Thomson Hall was draped in a throughly Gallic shrug.
The opener was Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune by Claude Debussy. It is an emblem piece for impressionism, where instruments are used as paintpbrushes.
Denève took the piece at a languorous pace, allowing us to savour the many sinewy, sensual twists in the journey. The light, diaphanous effect was magical.
French pianists Frank Braley and Eric Le Sage, both making their Toronto Symphony débuts, are very different artists who found scintillating common ground in a piece that veers madly from boisterous to introspective,while challenging the soloists to stay together in the face of all sorts of rhythmic complexities.
This gang made it all sound like so much fun — a nice, colourful alternative to the warhorse piano concertos, and filled with the extra shimmer that an extra pair of hands can bring to piano strings.
Denève kept the best for last, as we were treated to a remarkably crafted Symphonie fantastique by Hector Berlioz.
It never ceases to amaze me how this piece dates from 1830, so clearly half a century ahead of its time.
The conductor decided to take us on a detailed tour of all of its little treats, bringing light to the middle parts of the orchestration in a way that often made this sound like a new piece of music.
The orchestra was with Denève all the way, with revelatory work from every section — in terms of colour, precision and flexibility.
This is as exciting as a symphony concert gets. Try to catch one of the two remaining performances, Thursday and Saturday, if you can. Details here.
John Terauds
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
