Oundjian was wonderful.....

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s holiday classical music hiatus is finally over- Hallelujah!  Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Peter Oundjian was guest conductor for the first concert of the New Year. 

Peter Oundjian

© Sian Richards

Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio espagnol is a popular staple of the orchestral repertoire. However, if repetition leads to boredom it is indeed a shame, since it is flashy, brightly colored, sensual and brilliantly orchestrated. It’s a showpiece for every section of the orchestra, but it can also be simply an overpowering attention grabber. In this performance, Maestro Oundjian paid attention to every detail so that the entire work was nicely balanced. He was attuned to inner voicing that adds complexity, and he did so without sacrificing its overall structure. Subtle orchestral passages, often over looked in brasher performances, were not overpowered here (e.g. some of the guitar-like pizzicati in the cellos). Special recognition goes to principal clarinetist Laura Ardan’s solo passages in the Alborada that were breathtakingly and exuberantly virtuosic. Concertmaster David Coucheron’s solos were likewise brilliant. He played as if he was part of a group of Spanish street festival musicians rather than like being a soloist in a violin concerto, which added color, flare and subtlety to his performance. Principal cellist Christopher Rex’s playing was also strong. Oundjian breathed life into the ASO's performance and it was joyous.  For the complete review, go here:  https://bachtrack.com/review-bartok-oundjian-atlanta-symphony-january-2017

Jeff Roffman Photography, LLC