Classical Concert Reviews Cinci

@cincysymphony welcomed the start of spring at Music Hall with a program spanning three centuries built on celebrating the season. Under guest conductor Matthias Pintscher, a former creative partner with the CSO, the orchestra began with an emorice, bouncy and strong reading of the orchestral suite from Aaron Copland’s ballet Appalachian Spring, completed in 1945. Full of spirited and lyrical melodies based on the ancient story of Medea, Copland’s evocations of rural Americana was wonderfully conjured throughout the 25-minute score.
Pianist Conrad Tao (@conradtao) then joined for an elegant, intimate performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24, dating from 1786. Tao’s playing throughout was soulful and dramatic in a very subtle fashion. These qualities showed he is a worthy successor to some of the most famous Mozart interpreters of the last 50 years, such as Murray Perahia, Daniel Barenboim and Mitsuko Uchida. Tao encored with a solo piano arrangement of The Fairy Garden, the final movement from Maurice Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite.
Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 1, the Spring symphony, might rank as an underrated gem of the German Romantic repertoire, as the CSO had not played it in concert in 15 years. Their rating of this piece to conclude today’s program was equally joyful and pastoral, especially through flute calls in the third movement evoking the singing of birds.
Pintscher’s conducting was surprisingly relaxed, which is a nice change of pace from how other conductors have tackled Schumann’s music. The natural shape and flow of the music took precedence over an emphasis on tension or drama, particularly in the first and last movements.
Looking forward to more appearances from Maestro Pintscher in Cincinnati and wish him continued success as he assumes the post of Music Director of the Kansas City Symphony in Missouri.