Midori, Beethoven, and Berlioz

Music Hall was sold out Saturday night (24 March) with the anticipation of hearing Midori perform Beethoven's Violin Concerto. She stunned audiences as a child prodigy, and decades later Midori continues to amaze audiences. She was billed on the first half of the program, and Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique balanced the remainder of the program. Midori's technique was near flawless. I did notice a couple of errant double stops, but other than that her performance was brilliant. Her approach to the Beethoven contained moments of sensitivity coupled with masterful technique. However, sometimes I struggled to hear some of her more sensitive passages because of the volume of the orchestra. This issue in balance, unfortunately, falls under the direction of the conductor. I say this is unfortunate because I very much liked the interpretation of the Beethoven and the Berlioz led by guest conductor, Pinchas Steinberg. Known mostly as an opera conductor, I thought Steinberg would have picked up on this and been a bit more mindful of the soloist. But these were just a couple of passages. Her handling of the cadenzas highlighted her mastery of the violin, and she received multiple returns to the stage from the audience. This, of course, prompted an encore. She chose the second movement, the fugue, from J. S. Bach's Sonata No. 1 in G Minor for Solo Violin, BWV 1001.

A few years ago I heard the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra perform Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique under the direction of Paavo Järvi. It was an excellent interpretation, and the best I have heard the orchestra perform. Each section of the orchestra rose to the occasion in tackling the technically and sonically difficult music set before them. The performance tonight led by maestro Steinberg rivaled Järvi's. There must be something about performing Symphonie fantastique that makes the CSO sound so good. The audience was very pleased with the performance that the applause brought maestro Steinberg back on stage three times. On his last visit to the stage, he quieted the audience and expressed his gratitude for the the wonderful musicians he worked with and his gratitude for such an appreciative audience. He concluded the night by saying, "If you want to hear them again, then come again!"