Three nights, three concertos and 5 symphonies: the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is approaching its deep dive into Mendelssohn with the type of depth this still-slightly-underrated composer doesn’t typically obtain. András Schiff is each conductor and, within the two piano concertos, soloist. The Blüthner fortepiano he’s taking part in seems to be prefer it needs to be a contemporary live performance grand when it grows up. It’s a giant instrument for its variety and, within the Piano Concerto No 2 – which started this second live performance of the collection – its clear, brilliant tone was a very good match for the orchestra. This wasn’t a very lyrical efficiency, although the song-like sluggish motion flowed superbly; it was, nevertheless, charged with unflagging vitality. Schiff picked out the melodies strongly, even whereas maintaining the busy accompanying figuration brilliantly delicate – the finale was a reminder that Mendelssohn, who gave the premiere, was himself fairly the virtuoso.
As an encore Schiff performed the Variations Sérieuses, a heavyweight solo piano piece lasting effectively over 10 minutes, most likely a meatier merchandise than obligatory at this level. Actually by the point we acquired to the closing moments of the Reformation Symphony, which adopted, the efficiency had taken on an end-of-evening vitality, although there was one other complete symphony to come back after the interval.
An excessive amount of of a very good factor? Very almost – however not fairly. Each symphonies discovered the orchestra sounding invigorated, and nothing dragged. The Reformation Symphony had began with the devices mixing collectively to sound like an organ – a small one, nothing too grand – and completed in a blaze of rasping brass, together with the low grumble of a serpent. There was a lot character and color in between, with the stereo inserting of the violins creating energetic results and with some perky taking part in within the outdoorsy second motion. Within the Scottish Symphony the strings took a second to settle, however it was the clarinet solos that stole the present, earlier than the work romped house in a delightfully unguarded competitors between the 4 horns on one aspect and the timpani on the opposite. Schiff’s conducting could appear small and neat however it attracts out huge taking part in.
