Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Gustavo Dudamel triumphantly leads the NY PHILHARMONIC after an absence of more than a decade

• By drediman
• January 22, 2020
• No Comments

Gustavo Dudamel leads the New York Philharmonic at the David Geffen Hall. Photo by Steven Pisano.

This past week at the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, Gustavo Dudamel returned to conduct the New York Philharmonic after an absence of more than a decade. As if to compensate for this extended absence, the superstar conductor – who recently wowed concert-goers during his all-too-brief trip to New York in the fall with his L.A. Philharmonic – has been scheduled to conduct the New York forces (in two discrete programs) over a relatively lengthy two-week residency.

The triumphant evening began with an ethereal rendition of Charles Ives’ short but poignant “The Unanswered Question”. Although the mammoth Geffen Hall threatened to diminish the piece’s inherent intimacy, Dudamel was nonetheless able to draw out the unresolved drama of the piece. The evening continued with an exciting rendition of Esteban Benzecry’s 2011 “Piano Concerto”, featuring Sergio Tiempo as the piano soloist. The three-movement piece is a wild ride, careening in a carefree manner across various influences – from the jazzy rhythms of Gershwin, to the clashing tension of Stravinsky, to hints of pop and Eastern music. On paper, this eclectic “post/pan” musical approach may seem unfocused, but the sheer virtuosity and color of Mr. Benzecry’s work managed to win the day, as did Mr. Tiempo’s inspired playing, which thrillingly kept in step with the twisting composition.

After the intermission, Dudamel returned to the podium to conduct a masterful rendition of Dvořák’s well-known “New World Symphony”. Indeed, those familiar with the Hollywood cinematic canon may recognize the work’s downstream influence on such iconic pieces as John Williams’ Star Wars and Howard Shore’s Lord of the Rings scores. Dudamel brought a freshness and sparkle to the Dvořák’s four-movement Ninth Symphony by choosing not to dwell on its more well-known themes. He chose to interject these tuneful but well-worn fanfares brashly, instead opting to focus on creating a textured whole. Throughout, the New York Philharmonic players vibrantly responded with enthusiasm, as did the audience, who gave the maestro a rousing ovation at the concert’s conclusion. Dudamel’s residency continues with a new program comprised of Mahler’s “Song of the Earth” and Schubert’s Fourth.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC
Classical Music
David Geffen Hall
1 hour, 55 minutes (with one intermission)
Dudamel conducts the New York Philharmonic through January 25