Carolinas Concert Association

BERGEN PHILHARMONIC PERFORMANCE
This was a different Tchaikovsky
Bergen Philharmonic's string section gave piece unrivaled richness
STEVEN BROWN

It wasn't a contest. But the comparison is inevitable.

Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony could hardly be much more cataclysmic than it was Monday, when it capped of the Bergen Philharmonic's performance for the Carolinas Concert Association. The Charlotte Symphony, which played the same piece on the same stage a few months ago, didn't come near rivaling the richness and heft of the Norwegian group, with its much larger string section.

In a way, Charlotte's orchestra commanded respect: Even with its leaner sound, it laid into the music with an eagerness that still generated electricity. Yet the Norwegians' Tchaikovsky was almost a different experience.

Take the cellos' big moments in the slow movement. Charlotte's seven players bore down and put ardor into Tchaikovsky's melodies. But when 12 cellists sang out in them Monday, Tchaikovsky welled up with a whole new urgency. Even when the players eased up, their sound had a fullness that still made the music haunting.

Enough with the comparison. The Norwegians' range of sound and color -- from the whole orchestra, not just the strings -- paid off in the whole symphony, especially the way conductor Andrew Litton marshaled it all.

It wasn't just that Tchaikovsky's outbursts were powerful. Litton and the players brought out the crossplay -- sections of the orchestra volleying back and forth -- that makes every phrase part of a drama. Yet the group also made the little waltz in the first movement as cozy and warm as a love duet. With so much sound at his disposal, Litton made the lyricism rich and big-hearted. Even the dashing, plucked-string scherzo glowed.

Pianist Andre Watts gave a similar sort of muscle and poetry to the solo part of Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto. He played up the breadth of the melodies and the rumbling power of the climaxes -- though one or two twangy notes in the ill-adjusted piano worked against him.

The Charlotte Symphony will bring Watts back to town next season. I'm hoping the piano will be in better shape.






BERGEN PHILHARMONIC PERFORMANCE This was a different Tchaikovsky Bergen Philharmonic's string section gave piece unrivaled richness STEVEN BROWN It wasn't a contest. But the comparison is inevitable. Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony could hardly be much more cataclysmic than it was Monday, when it capped of the Bergen Philharmonic's performance for the Carolinas Concert Association. The Charlotte Symphony, which played the same piece on the same stage a few months ago, didn't come near rivaling the richness and heft of the Norwegian group, with its much larger string section. In a way, Charlotte's orchestra commanded respect: Even with its leaner sound, it laid into the music with an eagerness that still generated electricity. Yet the Norwegians' Tchaikovsky was almost a different experience. Take the cellos' big moments in the slow movement. Charlotte's seven players bore down and put ardor into Tchaikovsky's melodies. But when 12 cellists sang out in them Monday, Tchaikovsky welled up with a whole new urgency. Even when the players eased up, their sound had a fullness that still made the music haunting. Enough with the comparison. The Norwegians' range of sound and color -- from the whole orchestra, not just the strings -- paid off in the whole symphony, especially the way conductor Andrew Litton marshaled it all. It wasn't just that Tchaikovsky's outbursts were powerful. Litton and the players brought out the crossplay -- sections of the orchestra volleying back and forth -- that makes every phrase part of a drama. Yet the group also made the little waltz in the first movement as cozy and warm as a love duet. With so much sound at his disposal, Litton made the lyricism rich and big-hearted. Even the dashing, plucked-string scherzo glowed. Pianist Andre Watts gave a similar sort of muscle and poetry to the solo part of Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto. He played up the breadth of the melodies and the rumbling power of the climaxes -- though one or two twangy notes in the ill-adjusted piano worked against him. The Charlotte Symphony will bring Watts back to town next season. I'm hoping the piano will be in better shape.
Carolinas Concert Association - PO Box 5474 - Charlotte, NC 28299 1900 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205 Tel: (704) 527-6680 - Fax: (704) 527-1846 - Site By: EyeBenders