Classical Concert Reviews Cinci

@cincysymphony closed out February 2025 with a concert featuring one of the greatest violinists working today, Gil Shaham, tackling one of the most under-appreciated concertos in the repertoire by Antonín Dvořák.
Under the direction of John Storgårds, chief conductor of the BBC Philharmonic in Manchester, England, the concert opened with the Cincinnati premiere of White Internment, the third symphony by Ukrainian-born composer Victoria Polevá. Originally written for oboe and strings in 2002 and expanded for full orchestra one year later, the piece draws inspiration from a poem by the Russian writer Gennadiy Aygi called “Now always snows”. Filled with luscious harmonies calling to mind the music of Arvo Pärt and Eric Whitacre, the piece took the audience on a kind of musical journey through a snow-covered landscape in the countryside, with flourishes from glockenspiel and timpani evoking flashes of light and the power of a coming blizzard.
Violinist Shaham’s performance of the Dvořak concerto was utterly spellbinding, as he played with fiery passion and a pure, effervescent tone, especially in the adagio second movement. Its finale was bouncy and vibrant without being overly haughty. As a rare treat, maestro Storgårds, an accomplished violinist as well as conductor, joined Shaham for an encore with the Gavotte from the fifth sonata for two violins by the French baroque composer Jean-Marie Leclair (1697-1764).
Johannes Brahms’s Symphony No. 4, first performed in 1885, is a fairly dark, transcendent work written late in his career, but one which includes frequent hints of sunny optimism. The CSO’s performance under Storgårds brought this swinging emotional pendulum of music to life with a vivid and strong performance. His conducting was elegantly lyrical, yet never losing sight of its dramatic impact, particularly in the first and last movements. The third movement scherzo (with its active part for triangle) was a delight, while the second movement felt more relaxed snd free, especially in moments spotlighting the winds and low brass.
A wonderful way to spend a damp, rainy day after Valentine’s Day, and am looking forward to the slate of performances in March.