SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL CONCERT REVIEW

71^st Quincena Musical Donostiarra - Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky: Ewa Podles (mezzo) Orchestre Nationale du Capitole de Toulouse. Orfeón Donostiarra. Conductor: Tugan Sokhiev. Auditorio Kursaal de San Sebastián. 3. 9.2010 (JMI)

Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky.

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.5

 

As the 71st Quincena Musical Donostiarra—dedicated to Russian Music this year—comes to an end, it’s only fitting that the final concert should have been the responsibility of a Russian conductor (Tugan Sokhiev) with a program of Russian music. The program consisted of Sergei Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky Cantata, followed by Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony – a program as interesting as it was demanding for the young Mr. Sokhiev.

The Alexander Nevsky Cantata was originally composed as a soundtrack for Eisenstein’s film of the same name, commissioned by Stalin. Saint Alexander Nevsky, or “Alexander of the Neva River”, is a revered figure in Russian history for achieved final victory over the Swedes in the 13th century. The soundtrack to Eisenstein’s film was later arranged by Prokofiev, turning it into an extended suite for orchestra, chorus and mezzo-soprano. The cantata had its premiere in 1939, at the dawn of the Second World War. In those days Russia and Germany were still allies of convenience, but the cantata’s subject is the battle between Russia, led by Alexander Nevsky, and the Teutonic Knights of the Holy Roman Empire, invading Russia on the initiative of the Pope. The 40 minutes long work is is very demanding for orchestra and choir and displays the orchestral brightness typical for Prokofiev.

At 33, Tugan Sokhiev is one of the most splendid prospects among music directors today. I have been a great admirer of this young conductor since I had the opportunity to see him at Teatro Real some four years back, conducting “The Love of the 3 Oranges”. That was already after young Sokhiev’s troubles in Cardiff at the Welsh National Opera, and since then every time I have seen him conduct, it’s been an occasion to see an exceptional, continuously growing conductor.

His reading of Alexander Nevsky was authoritative and with a self assurance downright unseemly of somebody his age. With him guiding the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, they achieved a very bright—and I dare say a truly Russian — sound. The Ofeón Donostiarra chorus displayed enormous musicality and flexibility. Their “Peregrinus" vocal interventions were outstanding. Polish mezzo-soprano—rather contralto—Ewa Podles was a very musical and excellent complement. Her part barely lasts 5 minutes and is focused on the middle range, which suits Mrs. Podles especially well.

Tchaikovsky’s Fifth had a similarly brilliant reading from Sokhiev and the band. Alas, that might have come at the expense of depth, missing some of the romantic abandon in the Andante. And for all the strengths that Mr. Sokhiev displayed, there were more than a few moments where the wind section displayed an excess of volume.

The intense, prolonged applause from the Kursaal Auditorium audience encouraged Sokhiev to offer two short encores, both by Tchaikovsky, and proved a happy ending to San Sebastian’s 71st Quincena Musical Donostiarra.

José M Irurzun

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