Sunday, July 28, 2024

Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Austria

Ideal musical fare for a Sunday morning in Salzburg (and no doubt also in two evenings’ time when this without-interval concert is played again). The Brahms was sublime, dug into with the deepest of human feelings, and the most meaningful of dynamic drops to ppp, sung and played with beauty and heartfelt engagement, and dramatic fire when needed. Add in vocal soloists for Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang, be it Symphony, Cantata, or the ‘Hymn of Praise’. Irrespective of titular and generic matters, Herbert Blomstedt sculpted a wonderful sixty-seven-minute account, from a majestic trombones’ motivic summons to rousing choral jubilation, with a first movement of energetic impetus (the Vienna Philharmonic, Rainer Honeck concertmaster, in bustling and vivid form), a second of dance-like lyrical grace, and a third of eloquence (warm Vienna strings a plus), all attacca, as are the settings from the Bible that follow, each one – under Blomstedt’s astute direction perfectly formed, sympathetically shaped by the soloists and the Singverein, sometimes with a nod to the operatic stage – belonging to Mendelssohn’s grand design. Austrian Radio’s sound was excellently spacious and balanced.

Johannes Brahms Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny) for Choir and Orchestra, Opus 54 (Hölderlin)

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Lobgesang. Symphonie Nr.2, Opus 52

Christina Landshamer Soprano I, Elsa Benoit Soprano II, Tilman Lichdi Tenor & Wiener Singverein

Herbert Blomstedt conducts Bruckner Nine at St. Florian Monastery with Bamberger Symphoniker. Live audio relay on World Concert Hall.

A surprise greeting for Herbert Blomstedt on his 97th birthday from Bamberg Symphony members. July 11, 2024; St Florian Monastery, Austria.

Many Happy Returns to the indomitable Herbert Blomstedt, 97 today. Conducts Mozart Symphonies 39, 40 & 41 (‘Jupiter’)/Bavarian Radio SO; Berwald’s Sinfonie sérieuse/Swedish Radio SO; and Nielsen Five/NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester. Interview.