Vladimir Jurowski stepped onto the conductor stand, picked up his baton, and so the magic began.
From the first note, the London Philharmonic Orchestra captivated the audience in a full Memorial Hall Tuesday night.
With the dim lighting, the musicians in all black, and the rich mahogany-colored sound shell, the feel of the hall was warm and majestic.
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Memorial Hall
Tuesday
Arts verdict:4 of 5 stars
ATTEND THE CONCERT
Time: 7:30 p.m. today
Location: Memorial Hall
Info:carolinaperformingarts.orgUnlike Tuesday’s performance, which featured music by Beethoven and Brahms, tonight’s show will feature music by 20th century composers Shostakovich and Ravel.
Though the orchestra is composed of many members with a large age range, the sound they produced was completely unified and fluid.
The first piece they played was Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D major. This featured 23-year-old Yossif Ivanov as a soloist.
In Beethoven’s piece, the soloist does not enter until later in the first movement, but when Ivanov did, he brought a new element to the composition.
His entry brought a new kind of life to the music, as he climbed up and down several octaves, taking over the melody.
World-renowned at such a young age, Ivanov delivered a near-perfect performance. From slower movements to feverishly fast sections, each note he played was with precision.
His solos were more lively versions of the background music that the orchestra provided.
After intermission, the London Philharmonic continued with Brahms’ Symphony No. 2, which not only showcased the talent of the entire orchestra together but provided each individual section with an opportunity to shine.
The finale of Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 combined the quick and furious playing of the violins and violas with the shining notes of the brass section to create a flourishing finish that resonated throughout Memorial Hall.
Conductor Jurowski of Moscow, Russia, is one of the youngest and most premier maestros in the world right now.
In his all-black suit with dark black hair, he conducted the orchestra Tuesday night with immense energy and fervor. His body movements mimicked the emotion and pace of the music.
Rarely has an audience been more attentive or quiet while watching a performance at UNC. They were immediately enraptured into the world of music.
The mix of young and old listeners in the audience could feel this energy, and responded enthusiastically. Both Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D major and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 received standing ovations.
Tonight, the orchestra will play a completely different program that, judging from Tuesday night, promises to be a great performance.
The members of the London Philharmonic are at the top of their game and lived up to their reputation Tuesday night.
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
