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SEEN
AND HEARD CONCERT REVIEW
Sibelius, a second opinion : Nikolaj Znaider (violin), London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis (conductor), Barbican, London 29. 6.2008 (RRR)
Jean Sibelius:
Violin Concerto, Oceanides, Symphony No.4
Has Colin Davis ever given a less than good performance of
Sibelius? In fact, his recorded legacy has amply proven that he is a
great Sibelian -- going back to his first and perhaps still best
traversal of the 7 symphonies with Boston Symphony Orchestra on
Philips.
Davis is every bit as good with his home-town London Symphony
Orchestra – as was demonstrated the evening of Sunday, June 29th at
the Barbican (where the cement underground parking lot ambience of
the lobby was relieved by the warmer wood-paneled interior of the
concert hall) in an all-Sibelius program.
The LSO began with a crystalline if somewhat cool Oceanides
that might have benefited from a greater sense of mystery. However,
every strand of this impressionistic music stood out clearly in the
bright acoustic of the hall.
The sensation of the evening was the Violin Concerto, played by
Nikolaj
Znaider,
who opened with great delicacy and refinement. It was the red
breast pocket handkerchief which signaled his passionate approach to
the work. He showed himself flexible within the phrase,
occasionally bordering on lingering, but never breaking the line.
Znaider was fully in command without a single tentative moment.
He is a very expressive player -- perhaps too expressive, depending
on one's interpretive take on this concerto. Znaider played it in
the tradition of the great Romantic violin concertos, and the
overall impression was of Italian fire on Nordic ice. Regardless,
his interpretation was consistent and his bravura playing was
gorgeous, with a breathtakingly delicate diminuendo at the close.
Davis and the LSO gave stirring support.
The anti-Romantic antidote was administered in the second half of
the program with the 4th Symphony, a deeply ruminative, mysterious
lament. With superb string playing (and an excellent first-chair
cellist), Davis and the LSO caught the melancholic heart of this
brooding work. Each of the four movements -- even the at times
rousing Finale;allegro -- ends enigmatically, softly -- indecision
hanging in the air.
It was a magnificent Sibelian evening, encompassing the great
composer's range from the climatic to the anti-climactic.
Robert R. Reilly