OSM: Conductor Julian Kuerti draws new pleasure from familiar music

MONTREAL - Should classical musicians be allowed to dress themselves? Attendees of Wednesday?s orchestral concert with violinist Karen Gomyo and conductor Julian Kuerti will know why I ask. They led the MSO through two of Vivaldi?s Four Seasons, something I cannot believe Michel Longtin was paid to write, and selections from Prokofiev?s Romeo and Juliet.

Kuerti kept the tempo slow and the orchestra quiet throughout, as if exploring the new hall?s powers of audience participation ? the supine lady in row V making origami with her program or a couple in U debating an early departure (sadly, no.) But it was often worth it, drawing new pleasure from too-familiar music, like the Largo of Spring, suddenly icy, though at times it risked dragging behind the fiercely energetic Gomyo.

Frankly, I believe her capable of brutality, and her Stradivarius has a narrow, pointy tone that softens nothing. The effect is unpredictable. In the Allegro of Spring, her duet with Marianne Dugal was a revelation, a nervy balancing act instead of the usual grandstanding; in much of Summer, it was the usual grandstanding.

Longtin?s 2006 commission Et j?ai repris la route leaped out of one Vivaldi and slid into the other without a pause. This transition was my only enjoyment of the work ? and I like new music. The audience was younger than average, probably because Vivaldi and Romeo and Juliet are familiar, and I wonder what they thought of the Longtin. I suspect it was a confirmation of every new music clich? ? rambling, percussive and cold.

On the bright side, my neighbour bet me it would break into the X-Files theme, so I won $20.

After Gomyo left, Kuerti led the MSO through the Prokofiev dessert. Most of the scenes are practically impossible to screw up; they are calculated like jingles to get into your head, under your skin, wherever they can find room. Others need a firm hand, particularly the longer ones like Juliet as a child and Romeo at her grave. Kuerti was less convincing in those, but his tempo eased out some surprises again; the Masks scene with Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio, for example, is usually best played quickly, but he milked it for a strange new menace.

The Wednesday Grand Concerts series continues Nov. 7 with Alisa Weilerstein playing Dvo?k?s Cello Concerto. Zeitouni conducts.

Source: http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Grand+Concerts+series+Conductor+Julian+Kuerti+draws/7376010/story.html

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