Whenever Augustin Hadelich comes to town to perform with the Utah Symphony I always make a point of being in attendance because I think he is absolutely brilliant (go here and here). I am certainly not alone in my admiration because there was a sizable crowd at Abravanel Hall last night to hear him perform the Violin Concerto by Jean Sibelius. Before the Sibelius, the orchestra began with Chaconne in E Minor by Dietrich Buxtehude with an arrangement by Carlos Chavez. As explained by guest conductor Tito Munoz, this piece was originally written by Buxtehude for the organ during the German Baroque period. Several hundred years later Chavez orchestrated it for the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional emphasizing more modern instruments. I had never heard this piece before (Munoz further explained that it is not performed in the United States very often) but I absolutely loved it! I loved the opening fanfare by a solo trumpet and horn along with the timpani and I also loved how the same progression of notes seems to be repeated again and again with more and more intensity. It was very powerful! Next came the Violin Concerto with Hadelich. Sibelius is one of my favorite composers (I discovered him on a trip to Finland) and this piece is widely considered to be one of his greatest masterpieces. It calls to mind a dark wintry night and I particularly enjoyed the first movement because the solo violin plays a haunting melody that is beautifully echoed by a clarinet. I also liked the final movement because the speed with which Hadelich moved his fingers was absolutely mind-blowing. He gave an incredibly passionate performance and the audience leapt to its feet immediately for a thunderous ovation. After the intermission, the orchestra concluded with Symphony No. 6 "Pastorale" by Ludwig van Beethoven and it was amazing. This piece is meant to evoke feelings about nature and I especially liked a motif played by the strings mimicking the sound of moving water in the second movement and the sound of a thunderstorm created by the cellos, basses, and timpani in the fourth movement. I loved every minute of this concert and it just might be my favorite this season (which is no mean feat because it has been a season full of wonderful music). I highly recommend getting a ticket for tonight's performance featuring the same program (go here).
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