Hartford Symphony Orchestra
through December 7, 2014
by Michael J. Moran
Though HSO Maestra Carolyn Kuan is a multi-talented
musician, guest conductor William Eddins did something in the third program of
this season’s Masterworks series that Kuan hasn’t done yet in Hartford (but
give her time): performed as featured soloist and conductor in the same
concert. He also did something Kuan does regularly and well: spoke to the
audience.
He opened by leading ten wind instruments from the piano in
the HSO premiere of the nine-minute “Homage to Friendly Papageno” written in
1984 by Jean Francaix as “a hymn of gratitude to Mozart.” Sounding like a
sprightly mash up of Mozart and Poulenc, it was played with charm and bite, and
it led nicely into Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17 in G, K. 453, in which Eddins
led a larger ensemble of winds and strings again from the piano as soloist.
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| William Eddins |
Not rising from the bench or leaving the stage between these
pieces, he engagingly discussed the themes from Mozart’s “Magic Flute” quoted
by Francaix and Mozart’s pet starling, which loved quoting the main theme of
this concerto’s coda but could never get all the notes quite right. From its
lively opening Allegro through a flowing Andante and vigorous romp of a finale,
the affectionate performance showed why this was one of Mozart’s own favorites
among his concertos. The conductor’s clear and decisive head motions
complemented the dexterity of his fingers.
A white-hot reading of Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7 by the full
orchestra followed intermission. The dark color of the opening cello chords
made clear that this would be a powerfully dramatic interpretation. A warm,
loving Poco Adagio, a stately, Czech-flavored Scherzo, and a passionate,
intense finale brought the audience to its feet. Here Eddins was a full-body
and high-energy conductor (think Leonard Bernstein), who led without a baton or
score all evening but with obvious communication skill.
Music Director of Canada’s Edmonton Symphony Orchestra,
guest conductor of major orchestras throughout the world, and at 18 the
youngest graduate ever of the Eastman School of Music, this gifted and
charismatic musician can’t be invited back to Hartford soon enough.
