Friday, June 13, 2025
St.-Georgen-Kirche mit Aussichtsplattform, Wismar, Germany
Following an a cappella piece, which was aurally immersed into the church’s acoustic, the conductor standing between pews of congregation, and then a couple of lengthy speeches, Herbert Blomstedt and members of the NDR Elbphilharmonieorchester played Bach and Beethoven (as in Hamburg the night before), the Cantata featuring Regula Mühlemann, who proved a delightful vocalist, whether with much lyrical expression or jaunty dancing rhythms, florid writing poised, a small body of strings, with violoncello and chamber organ continuo, and a festive trumpet obbligato, all guided by Blomstedt, his ninety-eighth birthday not far away.
Beethoven’s Second Symphony was introduced with potency, tied to a vivid first movement (crisp, hard-stick timpani, with dynamics and details in good order), the coda reached organically, with something saved for the lift-off final bars. Following which the Larghetto was sublimely spacious, profundities searched for and found, then a buoyant Minuet (twice-through on its return) and indivisible Trio, wrapped by an athletic Finale that ended the evening with exhilaration, Blomstedt enthusiastic in his applause for the orchestra.
ZABCZUK BEHREND/HONG/KROPP
Festspiel-Ouvertüre “Aus dem Hoheliede der Liebe” für Chor a cappella
(Uraufführung, Koop. mit der hmt Rostock, Auftragskomposition der Festspiele MV)*
Johann Sebastian Bach
Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen / Cantata, BWV51
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No.2 in D, Op.36
*Kammerchor der Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock
Csaba Grünfelder
Regula Mühlemann (soprano)
NDR Elbphilharmonieorchester