Manfred Honeck and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra sound magnificent in Dresden – Seen and Heard Worldwide

Germany Dresden Music ComPetition 2024 [8] – Tarrodi, Sibelius, Dvořák: Daniel Lozakovich (violin), Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra / Manfred Honeck (conductor). Kulturpalast Dresden, 26.5.2024. (MC)

Andrea Tarrodi – Camelopardalis, for orchestra
Sibelius – Violin Concerto, Op.47
Dvořák – Symphony No.8 in G main, Op.88

A Swedish composer based mostly in Stockholm; Andrea Tarrodi has written a variety of music together with greater than thirty orchestral works. Tarrodi accomplished Camelopardalis in 2010 a fee by the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra which premiered in 2011 at Cape City, South Africa. Lasting some eight and a half minutes the rating evokes an exquisite dream that Tarrodi had a couple of giraffe that she rode away on into the sky. Camelopardalis is a Latin identify for a constellation within the northern sky that represents a giraffe, and its track is depicted by a wailing bassoon. At first listening to the rating jogged my memory of the soundworld of Finnish composer Rautavaara. The slowly gathering momentum led to a loud climax adopted by a scene of relative calm earlier than fading away, then the entire design is repeated. Performed superbly by Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra beneath Manfred Honeck with the bassoonist incomes high marks, this was an pleasing Tarrodi work, worthy of consideration and very best for opening a live performance.

Within the final couple of years, I’ve attended concert events of the Sibelius Violin Concerto 4 or 5 occasions. I’m not positive if it has all the time been as standard, now it could be classed as a warhorse of the concerto repertoire. As a violinist himself, Sibelius at one time auditioned as a participant for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 1903 accomplished his Violin Concerto. At its unexpectedly organized premiere a alternative soloist was ill-prepared and the concerto was poorly obtained. Sibelius withdrew the rating, made substantial revisions and in 1905 the revised model was launched by Karl Halir with Richard Strauss conducting. In 2017 I recall a riveting interpretation of the concerto by Henning Kraggerud with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra beneath Jacek Kaspszyk at Preston. Then in 2022 at Blackburn I relished the efficiency of soloist Francesca Dego with the Hallé carried out by Jiří Rožeň. This efficiency at Kulturpalast Dresden from the assured and chic Swedish soloist Daniel Lozakovich though effectively performed was barely disappointing. Lozakovich didn’t produce the extent of stress contained within the most interesting performances, and that feeling of Nordic chill was absent.

For my cash Manfred Honeck is likely one of the world’s best conductors. Ideally, I’d have wished to see him conduct a serious work by Bruckner, Mahler or Richard Strauss. Nonetheless, Dvořák’s Symphony No.8 in G main from 1889 is a splendid rating. It’s a work infused with bucolic elation probably impressed by recollections of the fields, forests and hills across the composer’s nation house in Bohemia. Understanding the work effectively, in 2014 Honeck recorded the symphony with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on Reference Recordings and described the rating as ‘a particular jewel’ of the repertoire. The opening motion had a contemporary, exuberant really feel expressing vivid and interesting Bohemian rural scenes. Reminding me of a miniature symphonic poem, Honeck’s Adagio evoked a river journey winding its manner by way of the Bohemian countryside. Within the method of a dumka, a Slavic folks ballad, the Allegretto grazioso had much less of a melancholic really feel I usually encounter and Honeck’s strategy was extra carefree, heat, and sunny. The trumPet fanfare that opened the magnificent Finale led to the primary theme, first heard on the cellos, that grew to become a notable set of variations. I discovered the complete motion exhilarating.

Below Manfred Honeck the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra sounded magnificent and I hope it isn’t too lengthy earlier than I attend one other of his concert events.

Michael Cookson