BWW Reviews: FRIDAY MORNING WITH THE PHIL at Avery Fisher Hall

Sibelius and Brahms

New York Philharmonic, Sakami Oramo, Conductor

Avery Fisher Hall

The New York Philharmonic's series of 11am Friday matinee concerts is one of the real hidden gems of the New York cultural experience. True, the programming for the series is a bit less adventurous than one might wish for, but it is nonetheless laden with masterpieces.

Such was the case this past Friday as conductor Sakami Oramo took the helm of the orchestra in a concert of three time-tested audience favorites. On the program for the midday concert were two selections by Sibelius and one by Brahms.

Sibelius' The Oceanides, Op. 73, was composed in 1914, just prior to his magnificent Fifth Symphony, while the composer was at the very zenith of his powers. The piece was commissioned for the Norfolk Festival in Connecticut, and the compose himself conducted the premiere performance.

Oceanides are the feminine spirits that lived in the sea in Greek mythology. The composer uses an unusually large orchestra to detail the work's rich variety of colors, emulating the pulses of the ocean, the rhythm of its waves. It is a unique piece and Conductor Oramo did a masterful job of bringing forth all the subtle textures hiding within the work.

The second Sibelius piece was the evergreen and rightfully popular Violin Concerto. Former NY Philharmonic Artist in Residence violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann delivered a ravishing rendition of the extremely symphonic concerto. It bears mentioning that the work was the only concerto ever written by Sibelius, especially considering the fact that the composer was himself an accomplished violinist.

One of the more noteworthy features of the concerto is the extremely long cadenza for the soloist in the first movement. However that extraordinary section led to some apparent intonation issues for Mr. Zimmerman, which the brutally long passages did not permit him the opportunity to retune. That was the only (and very slight) drawback in an otherwise exceptional rendition of the work.

Part two of the concert was dedicated to the well-worn Brahm's Symphony #2. Kudos to Mr. Oramo for an interpretation of the symphony that was anything but perfunctory. His take on the opening Allegro was unusually brisk and bright, a welcome choice. The Philharmonic strings luxuriated in the long slow movement, providing some moments of shimmering ecstasy, pastoral and melancholy. The famous finale was done in a more traditional fashion, starting with the basses and cellos in a busy but regal sounding interplay. When the brass exploded into the mix it was thrilling. The Philharmonic brass provided a passionate blaze of brass at the symphony's triumphant conclusion.

Peter Danish

Classical Music Editor in Chief

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