Koopman blows them away in Davies Hall

Posted by TGR (A) on March 15, 2015 at 10:45:14

Last night my wife and I attended the San Francisco Symphony concert led by Ton Koopman - a program of Handel (Royal Fireworks), and two works by Haydn - the Sinfonia Concertante and Symphony number 103. Small band stuff - most of the orchestra had the night off. Not really the kind of symphonic blockbuster evening we have come to expect - no big name soloists - the four in the Sinfonia Concertante were all members of the orchestra. No big finish with a conductor's symphony - not Mahler, not Bruckner, not Shostakovich.

Instead, Koopman and the orchestra delivered one of the most satisfying concerts I have heard in a long time. Haydn's Drum Roll Symphony was played as the great work it is, not as a routine curtain raiser and Koopman was able to bring out a tremendous amount of inner detail while conducting with great brio. The orchestra played their hearts out for him - and believe it or not, a Haydn symphony was greeted with a deserved standing ovation.

The other works in the program were equally invigorating - the opening Royal Fireworks (the first time in a lifetime of concert going I have ever heard it live - my main thought was what a wonderful composer Handel is), and the Sinfonia Concertante. The solists in the latter are dominated by the violinist and our solist was the long-term Associate Concertmaster, Nadia Tichman. This is the second time I've heard her solo - the first was sublime performance of The Lark Ascending a few years back. She is a marvel to hear - she draws sweet tones from her Strad, with impeccable technique.

Great stuff.

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Topic - Koopman blows them away in Davies Hall - TGR 10:45:14 03/15/15 (1)

RE: Koopman blows them away in Davies Hall - pbarach 16:06:34 03/15/15 (0)

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