Debut Marin Alsop with Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra great success
Thursday 9 July 2009
On 4 July the American conductor Marin Alsop appeared on the rostrum with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra for the first time. The rarely performed Sixth symphony by Dvořák and the Second piano concerto by Brahms were on the program. Soloist was Enrico Pace.
The concert has been as great success and met with great acclaim from both the audience and the press.
Below some quotations from reviews from daily newspapers.
More concerts
The radio ensembles have engaged Marin Alsop for this coming season as well. On 10 April 2010 she will conduct the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the Netherlands Radio Choir. During this important ZaterdagMatinee (Saturday Matinee) the new version of Les sept paroles du Christ en croix by Tristan Murail will be premiered. This concert will also be recorded for television. Both ensembles will be conducted by Alsop once more on 2 July 2010 in a performance of Ein deutsches Requiem by, once again, Brahms.www.marinalsop.com/
“Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra appears to be like wax in the hands of American conductor Marin Alsop
….. The RFO appeared to be like wax in the hands of Alsop… ..she.. did not leave a single detail unnoticed. The result: solid, sparkling outer movements and subtle changes in dynamics and tempo…
The Scherzo, inspired on Bohemian folk music, became the highlight: the reins loosely held Alsop masterly allowed the RFO to balance on the verge of fiery swinging and melancholic moaning. A wild galop in the finale added to the festivities…. Alsop’s approach makes one wish for more. With the RFO she may acquire some new ‘friends’, the theme of the Robeco Zomerconcerten 2009.”
*****
Lonneke Regter in de Volkskrant, 6 July 2009
“… last Saturday ….Italian Enrico Pace, … together with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Marin Alsop played the Second piano concerto by Johannes Brahms. Pace attacked Brahms with southern passion and together with Alsop managed to pilot the powerful tanker, which this concert is, into a safe harbour.
Alsop – athletic, energetic and swinging on the rostrum – magically produced a flexible and radiant sound from the RPO…Like a trinity pianist, orchestra and conductor produced the brilliant Andante. Everything came off in this miraculous movement, in which the cello and oboe merged unworldly beautifully. …. The audience understood what they had been witnessing and rewarded the performance with an ovation…”
[about the Sixth symphony by Dvořák]
“Alsop, a pupil of among others Leonard Bernstein… At least Alsop has a sense of verve and energy in common with Bernstein. The way she extracted the first theme of the first movement – a genuine golden Dvořák melody – from the orchestra was definitely brilliant. In the second movement too….Alsop was masterly in structure and balance.
There is no need to explain that someone who studied with Bernstein was at her best in the Furiant, with its strict changes between triple and binary metres. Delightful to witness, so the entire orchestra thought too, applauding Alsop and even remaining seated for her to accept the cheering of the audience by herself. May Alsop return soon.”
Peter van der Lint, De Telegraaf, 6 July 2009
"Alsop in Dvořák with verve and fire
[about Dvořák Symphony no. 6]
“The pastoral Adagio flowed more smoothly, after which it was demonstrated in the Scherzo that coarseness and verve do combine excellently……
[about Brahms Piano concerto no. 2]
… Of course the piano concerto has been designed like a symphony and has many more soloists, to be heard from the beautifully played horn solo until the cello melody in the Andante, silkily played by cellist Michael Sterling.”
Floris Don in NRC, 6 July 2009