https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/kultur/musik/muenchner-philharmoniker-unter-paavo-jaervi-frohlocken-mit-biedermeierlicher-bremse-art-885871
Abendzeitung
Munich Philharmonic Orchestra under Paavo Järvi: Cheer with a Biedermeier Brake
The Munich Philharmonic under Paavo Järvi with Mendelssohn and Pärt at the Isarphilharmonie.
The problem with this work, which begins as a symphony and ends as a cantata, is already in its subtitle: "Lobgesang". Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy lets the choir, three soloists and the orchestra rejoice, but not with all their heart, rather restrained by Biedermeier decorum. Contrasts, which spice up any art, do not exist, and so it is no wonder that one or the other listener yawns cautiously.
In his performance with the Philharmonic Choir and the Munich Philharmonic, Paavo Järvi opted for streamlining. That is the best way to approach this work. The orchestra played with sharp separation, the trombones standing out from the rest of the orchestra as a colour of their own right from the start. Chen Reiss (soprano), Marie Henriette Reinhold (alto) and Patrick Grahl (tenor) integrated themselves into the romantic objectivity of this performance without any pressure.
But there remained an unfulfilled rest: as much as the slender sound of the Philharmonic Choir (rehearsal: Andreas Herrmann) was convincing, many dynamic shadings seemed sacrificed to a permanent forte. The considerable charm of the quiet in the Isarphilharmonie remained undiscovered despite all the momentum and symphonic ductus.
This was balanced by the overall dramaturgy of the evening: the "Swansong" and Symphony No. 3 by Arvo Pärt preceded the "Lobgesang". The first piece heightened a melody with religious overtones and calmed it down again, the second strung together block-like chorale-like melodies similar to those that appear in Mendelssohn. The Philharmonic wind players played their solos with superior calm, their colleagues wrapping them in an exquisite overall sound.
At this point, the London Philharmonic Orchestra was recently highly praised. There is nothing to take back - but our local Philharmonic does play more beautifully and roundly on a good evening. And what we have in the choir only becomes really clear now, in the Isarphilharmonie, which is favourable for vocal music.https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/kultur/musik/muenchner-philharmoniker-unter-paavo-jaervi-frohlocken-mit-biedermeierlicher-bremse-art-885871
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