Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Springfield, MA
March 29, 2014
by Michael J. Moran
Despite his absence from its title, it was Bach whose music
set the tone for this program, first in the scheduled opening presentation of
his third Brandenburg Concerto, and then in an encore by guest soloist Yevgeny
Kutik of the “Largo” from his third sonata for solo violin.
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| Yevgeny Kutik |
None of the six Brandenburgs turn up much in live
performance, but as the shortest in the set, with only two chords for a central
slow movement, the third makes a perky concert opener. SSO Music Director Kevin
Rhodes conducted a slightly reduced orchestra from the harpsichord, where his
strong keyboard skills were sometimes not audible enough. The players seemed to
enjoy working with their leader in this fresh way, and their lively,
disciplined account of the concerto reflected the order and balance of the
classical tradition.
The national profile of the charismatic, young (late-20s)
Kutik was raised by a recent New York Times article about his new album, “Music
from the Suitcase.” Born in Minsk, Belarus, he moved with his family in 1990 to
the Berkshires, where he grew up to win several awards, one of which led to a
Boston Pops debut in 2003.
Kutik's passionate account of Prokofiev’s second violin
concerto proved him both a master technician and a mature interpreter of this
challenging score. He played with a full, rich tone, which he roughened for
some dramatic passages in the opening and closing movements and lightened for
the softer music of the rhapsodic slow movement. The orchestra matched the
commitment of his performance with a flair and color of its own, from the dark
strings to the bass drum and even castanets in the finale.
Prompted by a tumultuous ovation, the Bach encore confirmed
Kutik’s stature as a major talent who could hold the audience rapt even in this
quiet piece. And it reminded listeners that both Prokofiev and Beethoven, whose
modest fourth symphony followed intermission, learned much from the strong architecture
of Bach’s music.
There was nothing modest about the SSO’s blazing rendition
of the Beethoven, which Rhodes’s energetic baton brought to memorable life.
