Mark McLaren, Editor in Chief, March 15, 2016
Tonight, Kent Nagano and Orchestre symphonique de Montréal returned to New York's Carnegie Hall following a five-year absence in a compelling evening of Ravel, Stravinsky and Beethoven, their second stop on the orchestra's 2016 U.S. tour. In a rare appearance, the Portuguese pianist Maria João Pires, whose career has focused equally on pedagogy and concertizing, joined Nagano in a captivating performance that brought the Carnegie audience immediately to its feet and lead to a rare pre-intermission encore by Ms. Pires.
Kent Nagano, Maria João Pires, and Orchestre symphonique de Montréal at Carnegie Hall March 15, 2016 Photo: Steve J. Sherman
The seventy-one year old pianist is a sonic powerhouse - breath-taking technique supporting exciting, even audacious decisions. And tonight, both technique and point-of-view were flying through Stern Hall as Ms. Pires played a Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37 as exciting as the Late-Romantic and twentieth-century works that book-ended the performance. It is not a big sound, and the thrill in hearing Ms. Pires is how she has compensated for a slight lack of heft with an abundance of détaché articulation in her phrasing - a smart solution to small-ish hands. Runs and trills, no matter how fast, are crystal clear and pop from the piano. She can sit at the very front edge of a tempo without the slightest whiff of rushing - an eager, assured metronome. Every note of Ms. Pires' interpretation breathes intention, and her performance is endlessly exciting.
Pianist Maria João Pires with Orchestre symphonique de Montréal at Carnegie Hall March 15, 2016 Photo: Steve J. Sherman
In conductor Kent Nagano, Ms. Pires has a kindred spirit. A maturely confident musician, Nagano anchors a clear vision with a sure, if understated technique. And he follows his soloist with a deft synchronicity. The orchestra responds to Pires' Beethoven interpretation en masse, and follows Nagano through the Ravel and Stravinsky equally united.
Nagano is in his tenth year with Montréal, and a happy marriage between conductor and orchestra is evident. Early in his career, Nagano worked in Boston under Seji Ozawa, a leading interpreter of French Romantic rep, and tonight's reading of Ravel's 1920 La Valse is clean and dynamic. Tempos are sure, phrases are supple and insistent, and textures rich.
Conductor Kent Nagano with Orchestre symphonique de Montréal at Carnegie Hall March 15, 2016 Photo: Steve J. Sherman
Also on the program is Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, a thunder-stealing work in a solid performance that, within Mr. Nagano's clever programming and alongside Ms. Pires' spectacular performance, had its own thunder stolen just a tad.
The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal's rare New York appearance offers a glimpse at the artistic growth that this ensemble is experiencing under Nagano steady stewardship. Montréal comes to the U.S. with its own distinct sound palate. The balance among the fine (and young) musicians is spot on, but it is a balance in which the individual components maintain a bright presence. The strings are firm and emphatic, the brass proud and unafraid. This is a sound with tremendous polish but little varnish, and the result is visceral.
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal's U.S. tour continues with concerts in Boston, Ann Arbor, Chicago, San Diego, Palm Desert, Santa Barbara, Berkeley, and Rohnert Park. The orchestra plays Ravel's La Valse and Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. Pianist Daniil Trifonov replaces Ms. Pires for the remainder of the tour playing Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3.
Follow The Orchestra symphonique de Montréal United States tour here.
Follow ZEALnyc's reporting on Sondra Radvanovsky's exciting Three Tudor Queen engagements at The Metropolitan Opera here.
And click here for ZEALnyc's complete reporting on New York City and world arts & culture.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.