Stability of Conductor Kent Nagano Through the Years
Headline: Kent Nagano's Stirring Return with OSM: A Humanly Accessible Interpretation of Schubert's 9th Symphony
In a captivating performance at the Lanaudière Festival, Kent Nagano, the renowned conductor, returned to the podium after a long absence, leading the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal (OSM) in a moving rendition of Schubert's 9th Symphony.
Nagano's interpretation of the masterpiece was humanly accessible, ensuring the complex symphony remained within reach for the audience. His choices in conducting remained consistent over time, with certain repetitions omitted and the duration framed at 50 minutes. The result was a performance that was both engaging and powerful.
The concert began with the Finale of Ligeti's Romanian Concerto, setting the stage for the climactic Schubert performance. Violinist Olivier Thouin excelled in his many solos, adding a layer of beauty to the symphony. The balance of the orchestra favoured certain instruments, creating a vision that was both Viennese post-classical and pre-Brucknerian.
The Finale of Schubert's 9th Symphony under Nagano's direction was particularly noteworthy. The strings delivered a magnificent bow work, giving bounce to the movement and creating an atmosphere of exhilaration.
Meanwhile, in a separate event, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, another distinguished conductor, conducted Schubert's 9th Symphony at the Maison symphonique de Montréal. His interpretation was markedly different from Nagano's, with a focus on an extended palette, observance of all repetitions, and a symphony duration of an hour.
The Lanaudière Festival also brought in the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin and a choir for two major oratorios by Mendelssohn. Meanwhile, in sad news, Isabelle Vaillancourt, the general director of Publications BLD, passed away on Sunday.
Kent Nagano's history with the OSM is distinguished by over a decade of influential artistic direction, innovative programming, and enhanced audience engagement, leading to notable improvements in concert attendance and the orchestra's reputation. His return to the podium was a testament to this legacy, and a reminder of the power of music to bring people together.
The performance of Schubert's 9th Symphony by Kent Nagano with the OSM was not only engaging and powerful, but it also highlighted the symphony's cultural importance through Nagano's humanly accessible interpretation. This concert, rich in entertainment value, showcased the beauty of music as a universal language that transcends generations. In a parallel event, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, another eminent conductor, offered a different yet equally captivating take on Schubert's 9th Symphony, demonstrating the endless versatility of this masterpiece within the realm of music.
