In just two hours the Oregon Symphony will play the first of three subscription concerts in Portland that may be a high point of our season thus far. I think Carlos arrived at the hall on Thursday with a burning desire to show that he’s still a relevant and potent force in the musical life of Portland, and it will show in this weekend’s concerts.
The Walton Partita for Orchestra was written as an orchestral tour de force for the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell, and it is one hell of a difficult piece, but the orchestra is taking it in stride with hardly a hiccup.
Then comes the Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 played by James Ehnes, who is – unbelievably – making his Oregon Symphony debut in these concerts. He has come to Seattle quite often in the past decade, but this is his first time down South. He’s an amazing violinist – easily playing one of the most polished and musically satisfying performances of the Bruch that I’ve ever heard. It will be thrilling to see him in a performance situation the next three nights.
- Amazon link: James Ehnes – Bruch: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 3
Finally, comes Beethoven’s mighty Eroica Symphony. We’re revisiting it with Carlos this week, and his thoughts on this piece have changed since the last time, but his view of the piece is cogent and dramatic at the same time – it will be a highlight of the season, I suspect.
- Oregonian review of Saturday night’s performance.