Classical music: A new take on Mahler from Yannick N?zet-S?guin

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Yannick N?zet-S?guin.

Photograph by: Dario Ayala , The Gazette

MONTREAL ? The Orchestre M?tropolitain played two seriously sold-out concerts over the weekend, which is merely to say that things were as they ought to be in the Maison symphonique when Yannick N?zet-S?guin is on the podium. No longer the proverbial prophet without honour in his own country, he seems to be recognized by his fellow Montrealers as a conductor they are lucky to have.

Yannick in 2012 is not necessarily identical to the Yannick who recorded Mahler?s Fourth in 2004. The interpretation heard Friday was more complex, its expressive boundaries extended. And in various directions: The opening bars with sleigh bells were so light and carefree that we wondered in the harsh interludes of the development how we could ever have got to such a strange and frightening place.

Special effects in the second movement were well projected as the concertmistress picked up a custom-tuned violin. Then came a slow movement of ineffable beauty, with soft violins and subtle rhythmic inflections. Even the plucked notes of the double basses (lined up at the back) seemed full of tenderness.

There were many fine solo contributions, by principal horn Louis-Philippe Marsolais and others. Soprano Suzie LeBlanc did not make much of an impression in the finale or in Bach?s Cantata No. 51, a work I equate with sopranos of more brilliant tone. Principal trumpet St?phane Beaulac, splendid in Mahler, seemed to be holding back at the start as a professional courtesy.

Interesting how often Mahler in his tempo indications asks performers not to rush. I wonder if Bach would have added such precautions if he knew how often his music would be performed as pulsing dance music three centuries in the future. There were other problems: As in the Bach Magnificat performance on Thursday by SMAM and I Musici de Montr?al, there was too much organ thickening the mix. Nice solo violin work made some amends.

The concert of Saturday, also presented under the aegis of Bach and the Romantics, coupled Bach?s Suite No. 2 (heard in Montreal for the third time in seven days) with Bruckner?s Symphony No. 6. This I missed, most reluctantly.

My consolation: ATMA recorded the performance live. I guess it would be a bit much to ask for a release before Christmas. As for Mahler 4, if you missed Friday you can catch YNS leading it again on Wednesday ? at the Musikverein in Vienna with the Rotterdam Philharmonic.

akaptainis@sympatico.ca

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Source: http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/music/Classical+music+take+Mahler+from+Yannick+N%C3%A9zet/7673407/story.html

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