Hang on - trust the driver

Berwaldhallen (Stockholm) 2016-05-13

Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Stephane Denève
Soloist: Conrad Tao, piano

Higdon: blue cathedral

Rachmaninov: Piano concerto no 4 in G minor op 40

Prokofiev: Suite from Romeo and Juliet

There are concerts that change your perception of a piece. This concert went a step further - it changed my perception of music as such. 

The evening started with Jennifer Higdon's "blue cathedral". A transparent and almost impressionistic piece. The woodwind section has a big role - and the SRSO woodwind section is not disappointing. They are actually never disappointing. 

The piece was written right after the death of her brother. Although it's not a piece that about grief that is paralysing. It is sorrow with a lifted head and open eyes. 

Maybe it's just me, but I can hear the ocean in this piece.

Conrad Tao took us on a wild drive along curvy roads. I think that it's the best way to describe this concerto. It opens up with an urgency that it keeps all the way. There are some lyrical episodes, but the overall impression is that of a wild ride. 

The pianist playing it needs to be a virtuoso, but also able to integrate the lyricism in a fully natural way. Conrad Tao is that pianist. I can't think of any panist today more suitable for a "killer piece" like this. Many pianists could of course play it, and play it well. But extremely few can play it so it sounds natural and meaningful. 

Conrad Tao has all the technical skills in abundance. This allows him to go deeper. His virtuosity never becomes virtuosity for its own sake - it's a way to reveal the core. (The core of the score!)

The roads of the concerto might be curvy, but with Conrad Tao at the steering wheel I was never scared. I just got that breathtaking sensation of going on a crazy amusement park ride. And weirdly enough - his playing pointed out some beautiful views during the ride.

And it takes a conductor and full-blooded musician as Stephane Denève to let all this happen. He and the soloist cooperated in a fully natural way - listening in and giving freedom when needed. 

Stephane Denève also gave us a suite from Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev. Once again he showed his communication skílls in the way he inspired the orchestra and also giving them the freedom to add themselves into the result. And what a result! A flexible sound, precision from every instrument or group of instruments, perfectly balanced dynamics and a steady core of sound.