MTT Returns to Conduct a Triumphant Russian Program
/By Truman C. Wang
4/3/2024
Michael Tilson Thomas’ return to conduct the L.A. Phil last week was a celebratory affair. Not only was it an artistic and musical success, but also a courageous public battle of mind over matter in light of his brain cancer diagnosis. The choice of Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 was apposite. The lament and despair in the “Why me?” of the first movement (a shattering brass pronouncement followed by sighing strings) went through phases of denial and acceptance (second movement oboe solo), then a period of endurance and uncertainty (pizzicato strings in the third movement), before joyous triumph in the finale. MTT’s podium manner was precise and lively as his condition allowed, flailing his arms, swaying his upper body and even stumping his feet to the music’s marching rhythm. The oboe solo sounded pedestrian (principal Marc Lachat was a no-show), but the overall sectional balance of sounds was excellent, helped by the modern seating layout – all cellos and basses on the right, and all violins on the left.
Few conductors today excel in the Russian repertory like MTT, who as a young man had met Stravinsky. In Petrushka (1947 concert version), the orchestral balance tipped toward the brass and percussion, with the strings playing almost an accompaniment role. The aforementioned seating layout was modified with brass in center rear, flanked by harps and percussion – all in the conductor’s direct line of sight. As a result, the dances, notably Columbine’s dance for bassoon and trumpet, sounded extra piquant and vivid. The ballet music was vociferously received by the audience and the conductor returned to the podium to give an encore of the rousing Russian dance.)
photo credit: classicalvoice.org
Truman C. Wang is Editor-in-Chief of Classical Voice, whose articles have appeared in the Pasadena Star-News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, other Southern California publications, as well as the Hawaiian Chinese Daily. He studied Integrative Biology and Music at U.C. Berkeley.