Dec 30, 2023, Guangming Opera Theater 光明艺术中心 大剧场
State Academy Symphony Orchestra of Russia “Evegeny Svetlanov”-Ayyub Guliyev
New Yea Program
I found out about this concert late, but within seconds I bought the cheapest ticket I could find (RMB280), as I had known about this orchestra all my life (from its former life as the USSR State, usually under the legendary Svetlanov, whose recordings we Russophiles know well), and it’s like a dream come true to actually hear them, even if generations removed! History of this illustrious orchestra here.
The concert venue was very far away, and I made a mistake getting there. Although I had gone there recently, this time I had mistaken the MTR stop, and overshot and had to back-track to make it there. So I had to forego dinner and made it to the concert just in time on an empty stomach.
Just recently I was at this venue for the Borodin String Quartet, but in the smaller Theater. This time it's in the Opera House. Both are magnificent. My seat was on the side balcony, very close to the stage, hovering over the fifth row.
From the opening blast of the Suppe Cavalry Overture, I knew I was in for a ride. The hall is marvelous acoustically. One could hear every strand. And what great bold brass playing to start!
Then came the Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2. The orchestra played marvelously, but I had reservations about the piano sound of the soloist, Theodosia Ntokou, a Martha Argerich protege. The piano sound was not good and the lower registers just awful. For an encore, she played Chopin, quite inept if you ask me, in the New Year context. The best thing was that I heard from the orchestra totally authentic playing that is what Shosty should sound like. In this piece, as often with Shosty, there were many strands that you could find in his other works. Cheerful as it is, you can find strands that sound like those in many of his grimmest works, like Symphony No. 11 (The Year 1911). I wish one day I could hear this orchestra play a Shosty Symphony!
The second half opened with Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, No. 1. Wow! Phew! This was the end-all! Best I’ve heard in my life up to now, whether on records or live! I don’t expect to hear better. Delicate as China Doll, yet grand as anything in loud moments, all the while with incomparable rhythmic elan. I jumped up and yelled Bravo. To me that was almost like the end of the concert!
Then followed the inevitable Johann Strauss. The Kaiser Waltz was grand. Then came the Perpetum Mobile. And the of course the Blue Danube! All were great, but perhaps a bit too Russian Bold. Not the gentle Austrian tuck here and there. Still marvelous though!
First encore was a sliver of what I think is 梁祝, then came the Dawn on Moscow River. The audience went wild. To conclude, some Chinese New Year music was played. The audience went from wild to beserk.
Which was a bit surprising. Attendance was perhaps 50% (balcony not even open) and a lot of them were children, including toddlers. Some of the noisiest crowd I’ve come across. I complained, but was told the performers did not specify restriction for children under 1.2m, well! But, all’s well that ends well!
The orchestra was magnificent beyond words. Almost full strength, BUT for the strings, which were 10, 10, 8, 6, 4. Consider that chamber strength strings, but as I have come to know from experience of Russian orchestras, they sound considerably fuller than their numbers. To help with the situation, the seating was quite curious (see pic below). The brass and winds all the way to the right, as far away from the violins as possible, so as not to overwhelm them I’d think. The Winds were sensationally expressive. The Brass of course Russian assertive. And the great harp soloist! One fun thing is that the orchestra’s pianist (not the soloist) is an old guy who also played second violin! Another thing that I observed is that there was NO woman in both the Wind and Brass sections!!!! Old world!
The conductor was marvelous! Mindful of every little detail and dynamics, he was also very graceful in his movements, almost like a ballroom dancer! His body spoke music and dance!
My Concert of the Year! No, make that many years! Come back soon, please!
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