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Czech with a flourish (November 16, 2006) Birmingham Post
Tuesday's full Symphony Hall heard proof of the Czech Philharmonic's good health as it celebrates its 110th year of existence.
Two rhapsodies filled the first half, Janácek's Taras Bulba and Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini. Based on Gogol's tale of the Ukrainian Cossack, Janácek describes the death of Taras and his two sons in music of sharp contrasts, great rhythmic drive, and an intricate, montage-like texture.
Conductor Jiri Belohlavek produced a performance of great subtlety, Janacek's highly idiosyncratic harmonies and orchestration made to seem an entirely logical continuation of the 19th century romantic tradition.
Subtlety reigned too in the Rachmaninov. The young pianist Lukáš Vondrácek is a big man with a passing resemblance to rock star Meat Loaf, but instead of the flamboyance we might expect from his youth, the work received a most musicianly performance, with scrupulous attention paid to dynamics and shading.
Precision and rhythmic security replaced any generalised 'rhapsodising' and intellectual rigour combined with fantasy produced an exquisitely balanced performance notable for its restraint until the rubato of the famous 18th variation.
John Gough |
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