[Jenn]

In article
,
John Atkinson wrote:

On Nov 18, 4:15 pm, Jenn wrote:
Friday night I attended a concert that was a highlight of my musical
life. It was the San Francisco Symphony, conducted by the great Michael
Tilson Thomas, doing Ives and Mendelssohn.

It was my first time to hear the Ives Holiday Symphony live, and it was
quite an experience.

But what was truly incredible was the performance of the Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto. Fault can be found with the interpretation by young
Sergey Khachatryan, but the tone was simply amazing, as was his delicate
phrasing. His tone on his Strad was sweet like few other players that
I've ever heard. From Row M, dead center, his rich, full, complete
sound and super sensitive phrasing were a marvel to behold. Sadly, it
is, as far I have ever heard, impossible to get anything close to this
with hi-fi in the home, though at least the very best CDs and LPs can
remind one that this sound is at least possible to experience. It
garnered an instant standing ovation from an audience that doesn't hand
them out routinely. What a great evening of music!

Stereophile writer Jason Vicotr Serinus was also at the concert, Jenn.
This is his take on the Mendelssohn:

"The most inward, pensive, sad, and reflective performance of the
concerto I ever expect to hear, miles apart from the Oistrakh/Szell
recording I grew up with. The playing was musically impeccable.
But it was not the interpretation I would use to introduce the
concerto
to anyone for the first time. So far from the norm. (It was almost as
though we mourned through the entire first movement). And
Khachatryan's tone, while extremely beautiful, is quite small and
subdued. It intentionally does not glisten, and requires a conductor
to hush hush the orchestra. Hilary Hahn could eat the man alive if
she were playing next to him. Everyone was on their feet when the
concerto had concluded - me too - but I'll bet most were more
amazed than convinced."

I pretty much agree with Jason about the interpretation, but I LOVED the
tone. "Small" fits this concerto, I think. Though it's late
Mendelssohn, I count it as a Classical period piece regarding form, etc.
And though rather small in tone, the quality of that tone is just
magnificent: all parts of the tone is right there for the taking. Just
beautiful.


Wish I had been there. I haven't heard Hilary Hahn play the concerto,
but I am enjoying Joshua Bell's recording very much.

I like his as well.


When I was a child I loved Mendelssohn's music, but then
"moved on." Now I am approaching 60, I am falling in love
with his work all over again.

I've never been a huge fan, but I respect him. I've done the
Reformation Symphony once and the Overture for Winds (Nortourno) several
times.

Enjoy!