Beethoven 5 Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

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작성일 2007.10.15 16:39

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Classical music 'love-in' thrills crowd

Centennial Concert Hall

Attendance: October 13 2,223 (sold out)

four stars out of five

Selling out the house twice (including a healthy number of younger music lovers) within a few weeks bodes well for the orchestra, and is a good sign the powers-that-be are doing something right.

There is a popular belief Beethoven himself described the work as "fate knocking at the door." Whether this remains a classical music urban myth or not, Mickelthwate's breathless version was packed so full of speed that fate scarcely had a chance to tap, with the musicians driven like racehorses hurtling to a photo finish. While its tempting to equate speed with excitement (which the audience clearly did), faster is not always better, and the overall performance became defined not by heroic defiance, but rather, frantic, edgy anxiety.

But despite the haste, the orchestra responded as a remarkably cohesive unit, with the double basses showing particularly impressive technical agility with their fugal entrances in the third movement's Trio section.

As expected, the cheering fans leapt to their feet following the triumphant Allegro finale, demanding three curtain calls from the maestro and players who appeared energized by the music's momentum.

The evening also featured Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K. 218, performed by Canadian violinist Karen Gomyo. It's a tough act to follow with James Ehnes' stunning Manitoba Chamber Orchestra performance of all five Mozart concerti last month, but the 25-year old held her own, with her gracious presence and delicate tone bringing youthful sparkle to the work. The real surprise of the night may have been discovering that Haydn's Symphony No. 94 in G Major (Surprise) has not been performed by the WSO for over 40 years, last heard in 1966. The work's rollicking joviality proved to be a good-natured partner for the coming storms of Beethoven.

Winnipeg Free Press