Great Performers Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra Feb. 19, 2010

The Avery Fisher Hall on Broadway and 65Th st is a wonderful place to open your ears to music. The acoustics are just perfect for classical music. This brisk windy night in February brought the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra to New York as part of Lincoln Center presents Great Performers. The Great Performers this night included masters like conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin and the lovely Viktoria Mullova on Violin. The music was started with Brahms Violin Concerto in D major, 0p. 77, written in 1878. This is the German composers only violin concerto and said to be "against the violin" and "unplayable." The difference in this piece from other violin concerto is the difficult part of the soloist on Violin. On stage Viktoria Mullova was amazing with her swift movement and straight back. You became entranced by the second measure. Then after intermission a smaller part of the orchestra came out to do a "new piece" from 1996. (Theo Verbey Conciso) This short fierce number reminded one of a soundtrack to a Thriller. After this the whole Orchestra came out on stage. The Cello and Bass section was quite large and had a sound that was dark and rich. Last on the Schedule was Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra, BB 123 from 1943. In this each section of the orchestra is used as a soloist would be, making this contrast to the conventional concerto. The build up and breakdown with the strings was breathtaking. The oboes, bassoons and clarinets seemed to be in a different wind section then the other horns. The use of drums and cymbals was key to the arrangement. The fifth and final movement was a intense clash of everything once apart thrown together. This was a great night full of what Lincoln Centers promised, "Great Performers."

Other events this week:
*Beethoven Cycles: Quartets VI
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 7:30 PM
This is the last of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center complete quartets of Ludwig von Beethoven. Alice Tully Hall, Starr Theater
Look for more Beethoven on May 13, 2010 - Beethoven Cycles: Violin Sonatas
*Monday, February 22 2010, 8:00 PM.
Juilliard String Quartet. The foursome plays music by Mendelssohn, Davidovsky, and a Mozart quintet (with Robert Mann, viola). Alice Tully Hall at 1941 Broadway New York, NY 10023,

http://new.lincolncenter.org/live/