The Lang Lang, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Staatskapelle Dresden live performance was the best I’ve heard in a very long time – Seen and Heard Worldwide

Germany Ravel, Debussy: Lang Lang (piano), Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden / Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla (conductor). Semperoper, Dresden, 19.5.2024. (MC)

Ravel – Ma mère l’oye, Suite for orchestra; Piano Concerto in G main; Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No.2
Debussy – La mer

This Sunday morning live performance by the Staatskapelle Dresden was exceptional with performances of distinction given to 4 French masterworks of the repertoire. Outgoing Staatskapelle principal conductor Christian Thielemann who was to conduct this set of concert events withdrew by sickness. In Thielemann’s absence stepping in was Lithuanian conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla. Consequently, two of the 4 deliberate works had been modified. Debussy’s Ibéria was changed by La mer and Ravel’s La valse was switched for Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No.2.

As one may anticipate the Staatskapelle Dresden are primarily related to Austro-German romantic orchestral works. Then again, the Staatskapelle does have a practice of performing French symphonic music and the orchestra have been fast to play new works from main French composers, therefore the inclusion of this all-French programme on this 475th anniversary season.

In 1910 Ravel accomplished Ma mère l’oye (Mom Goose) for 2 pianos, a ravishing fairy-tale suite of 5 youngsters’s items. A 12 months later he orchestrated the Ma mère l’oye suite, as heard right here, and shortly after expanded the suite right into a ballet rating. With the swish, balletic motion of her arms and arms Gražinytė-Tyla radiated assurance and the Gamers responded with an imposing efficiency. In fact the melting fantastic thing about the ultimate motion Apothéose: Le Jardin féerique was fairly merely a balm to the senses.

Subsequent the piano sensation Lang Lang took his place on the piano stool for Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G main accomplished in 1931. I’ve seen Lang Lang play dwell twice beforehand and he doesn’t simply play the notes he offers a efficiency. And once more, this night he did simply that, involving the listener within the efficiency. Ravel was noticeably iNFLuenced by widespread music of the day, and I may hear American jazz and the music and spirit of Parisian revue and cabaret scene. A lot admired is the sluggish motion and Lang Lang performed with a gorgeous intimacy and sincerity, and it felt as if time had stood nonetheless. An excellent pianist Lang Lang communicated an agreeable performing persona that was imbued with humility.

It was with orchestral masterworks works L’Après-midi d’un faune, Nocturnes and La mer that Debussy established himself as a seminal composer of the 20 th century. Written in 1905, La mer is forged in three symphonic sketches titled From Daybreak to Noon on the Sea, Play of the Waves and Dialogue of the Wind and the Sea it’s an opulent rating and a extremely evocative impression of the ocean that has grow to be a basic of the impressionistic type. Such a trendy conductor Gražinytė-Tyla and the Staatskapelle had been very a lot on the identical web page and communicated vibrant photos of the ocean, that ranged from the soothing motion of lapping waves to essentially the most violent of storms.

Ravel supplied the ultimate work of the night Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No.2. With a situation primarily based on the romantic story by Greek creator Longus, Ravel accomplished Daphnis et Chloé in 1912, a choreographic symphony scored for giant orchestra and wordless refrain. It’s best described as a ballet rating created for Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes who had been having fun with immense success throughout their first Paris season. From the ballet Ravel organized a pair of orchestral suites and Gražinytė-Tyla selected to conduct the extra widespread Suite No.2. In three sections the primary Lever du jour a blissful evocation of dawn, adopted by Pantomime an arcadian setting and the ultimate piece Danse Générale thrilling and vibrant. Gražinytė-Tyla wasn’t shy about utilizing brisk tempi and broad dynamics, and all sections of the Staatskapelle excelled.

Carried out by the Staatskapelle Dresden below Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla with soloist Lang Lang this was the best live performance I’ve heard in a very long time, and the viewers cherished it too; it was one thing very particular.

Michael Cookson