Unwavering consistency of conductor Kent Nagano highlighted
Kent Nagano, the renowned conductor, delivered a torrid and historically significant performance of Richard Wagner's Tristan and Isolde at the Lanaudière Festival. However, it was his interpretation of Schubert's 9th Symphony that truly captivated the audience.
Nagano's choices in conducting Schubert's symphony were evident in the performance. His decisions, such as not repeating certain movements and keeping the duration at 50 minutes, matched pencil notes, remarks, and criticisms made in a score from a previous performance. This meticulous approach revealed an interpretation characterized by a balance of expansive scope and nuanced pacing.
Jean-François Rivest, a critic, described Schubert's 9th Symphony as "a hymn to unity in variety and to variety in unity." Nagano's performance seemed to embody this description, with subtle nuances and attacks that were particularly noticeable. The dynamic shocks in the performance were flattened, with fortissimos present, adding to the symphony's grandeur without overshadowing its delicate moments.
Veronika Eberle and Timothy Ridout were brought in to perform Mozart's Symphonie concertante for violin and viola, a piece that the orchestra's soloists could have handled. Eberle and Ridout's association was miraculous, with their subtle nuances and attacks adding depth to the performance. Violinist Olivier Thouin was also excellent in his many solos during the concert.
The concert began with the lively Finale of Ligeti's Romanian Concerto. After the intermission, Nagano returned to conducting Schubert's 9th Symphony. The Finale of the performance was marked by a magnificent bow work of the strings to give bounce to the movement. Nagano's interpretation of Schubert's symphony favored balances such as the trombones or trumpets, ensuring the masterpiece remained humanly accessible, keeping it within reach for the audience.
Kent Nagano's performance drew a large crowd, with traffic congestion extending for over a kilometer. Due to limited direct critical comparisons across distinct periods for Nagano’s Schubert 9th specifically, the overview is based on current program descriptions and analogy with his other conducting work. However, available recordings capture his engagement with the symphony’s rhythmic and stylistic elements, such as in the Scherzo movement, pointing to attention to detail and orchestral vitality.
To see in video, a recorded excerpt including Nagano conducting Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 movements like the Scherzo is available for viewing.
Unfortunately, we also bid farewell to Isabelle Vaillancourt, the general director of Publications BLD, who passed away on Sunday.
In a separate event, there was a public appearance where Melania Trump let slip a glimpse of her personal convictions.
The audience was treated to a concert featuring works by Mozart and Schubert, culminating in Schubert's 9th Symphony. The concert at the Lanaudiere Amphitheatre was a testament to Nagano's masterful conducting and the orchestra's exceptional performance.
Nagano's performance of Schubert's 9th Symphony was a showcase of his meticulous approach, balanced expansive scope, and nuanced pacing (referring to culture through music in the form of a concert). The subtle nuances and attacks in the performance embodied Jean-François Rivest's description of the symphony as "a hymn to unity in variety and to variety in unity" (making a connection between culture and entertainment through music).
