Philharmonia Orchestra/Paavo Järvi – Haydn Symphony 102 & Nielsen’s Four Temperaments – Leonidas Kavakos plays Brahms ... Music of Today: Schöllhorn, Birtwistle, Finnis, Jolas

classicalsource.com
Antony Hodgson
10.11.2016

Paavo Järvi’s series of Philharmonia Orchestra concerts featuring the Six Symphonies of Carl Nielsen uses a successful plan of including a Haydn Symphony and also a Concerto (including both of Nielsen’s), which results in a generous amount of music. Haydn 102 – one of his greatest Symphonies – made the ideal commencement here.

Järvi afforded respect to the 18th-century in his lateral division of first and second violins, the use of shallow timpani hit with hard sticks and the employment of full-length ‘period’ trumpets, the mellow tone of which is more suitable than that of the later shorter, narrow-bore instruments. The interpretation itself was more ‘modern’ however – grace-notes were of the short variety, the horns in B-flat were used in the lower octave – I missed their wonderful flaring effects in the Minuet and in the Finale as heard recently from Dennis Russell Davies, Anthony Halstead and Simon Rattle. I did however like Järvi’s measured tempos, the fierceness of the dramatic timpani crescendo in the first movement, the gentle pianissimos in the lovely Adagio and the vitality of the Finale. The decorations on repeats in the Trio of the Minuet were doubtless in recognition of ‘earlier’ style. To my ear they sounded merely quaint but no matter, a personal view of fashion is always welcome.

Brahms’s Violin Concerto from Leonidas Kavakos was very special. Often reviews deplore a spacious tempo for the first movement. Here the speed was time-taken indeed, but in the context of this interpretation it was ideal because Järvi never let the intensity slacken; the magically quiet sections, featured Kavakos sensitively weaving melodies through the hushed accompaniment yet the underlying impetus was not hindered. Above all the violinist’s tone was rich, his playing elegant and unforced, the sudden outbursts that Brahms uses for contrast firmly controlled; Kavakos made them a strong affirmation of a new theme rather than a challenge. Kavakos included Joachim’s cadenza. The beauty of tone in the Adagio was breathtaking; was Kavakos perhaps using the 1724 Stradivarius that he is known to own? The orchestral colouring was subtle and rich and was enhanced by the delicate beauty provided by oboist Gordon Hunt. The Finale was strong in rhythm; the conventional Hungarian ‘lift’ was given to the last note of bar 3 and Järvi hinted at the effect each time the phrase recurred. This was an inspired account, the quiet valedictory section leading to the ultimate bars was done so graciously that there was a sense of sadness knowing that it was about to end.

One scarcely needed an encore but Kavakos gave a charming rendering of ‘Gavotte en Rondeau’ from Bach’s E-major Partita (BWV1006) including ear-catching stylish decorations.

Paavo Järvi’s great appreciation of Nielsen was manifest in ‘The Four Temperaments’, which enlarged its scale. The choleric nature of the opening movement was achieved but the implicit anger was not made hasty and the breadth of tempo was most convincing making the music also strong and noble. The incisive chording was effective and the heavy brass, with important melodic significance, was superb. The phlegmatic second movement was a notable success, the slower tempo than is usual worked very well and Nielsen’s vision of a youth lying lazily on the sunlit sward was beautifully portrayed. The one sudden fortissimo was strongly exaggerated – an excellent idea.

Järvi’s expressive approach to the melancholy Andantino was a masterpiece of eloquent phrasing – the long opening melody being contoured with all the care that can be so effective in shaping a theme by Bruckner (there is little other connection between the two composers however) and this contemplative reading of so serious a movement made a suitable contrast with the wild Finale – marked Allegro sanguineo. Again trumpets, trombones and tuba were marvellous, and the fierce timpani solo was thrilling from the excellent Antoine Siguré. The concluding cheerful section should not be treated as a jolly march (but sometimes is). Nielsen warned against this – “the final march, though joyous and bright, is yet more dignified” – therefore much praise for Järvi for not hurrying: the Symphony ended imposingly. Overall there were some differences of approach to his recorded version.

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