BEETHOVEN SYMPHONIES 2 & 5
Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig, Riccardo Chailly
Barbican, 25 October 2011
It's remarkably difficult to perform Beethoven well. However, conductor Riccardo Chailly claims the Leipzig Gewandhaus have a "secret code" which allows them to get to the heart of his music. They don't always appear to fully unlock this power though.
They kicked off their International Associate Residency at the Barbican with a rather polite performance of Beethoven's Second Symphony. The opening chords could've done with a bit more oomph and the woodwind section were slightly out of tune, but overall the first movement was well executed. The rich string sound came through in the slower second movement, but the scherzo which followed took a while to reach a comfortable tempo. The fourth movement went at quite a lick, providing the audience with a rousing finish.
The orchestra really went up a gear in the second half of the concert. They performed Ritratto di musico (Portrait of the Musician) by Carlo Boccadoro - a work specially commissioned by Chailly to precede Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. With its spirited timpani part and emotional outbursts, the piece was an excellent premonition of the music to come. And the moment the Leipzig Gewandhaus played those famous opening notes from Beethoven's Fifth, the audience were putty in their hands. The musicians felt totally at ease with the music, bringing out the beautiful harmonies and melodic lines with finesse. At last the elusive "secret code" was finally revealed.
INTERESTING FACT: The Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig performed all Beethoven's symphonies within the composer's lifetime.
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