A delightfully good program at the symphony last night. Jeffrey Kahane was the guest conductor and was fun to watch.
The concert opened with Sibelius' Lemminkäinen’s Return from Lemminkäinen Suite, Op.22, a piece I did not know. From the opening notes, it drew me in with its magic and epic qualities.
Next up was Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major, K.502, with Kahane playing piano and conducting. That was fun to watch him stand and sit, stand and sit. He played very well. This piece has some nice melodies and moments, but is rather pedestrian as far as Mozart goes -- the third movement drags out too long.
After the intermission a very short piece, Sibelius' Valse triste from Kuolema, Op.44. Just as I was settling in to really listen, it was over! Very good, and it left me wanting much more.
Which I received with Sibelius' Symphony No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op.82. Wow! An excellent piece of music, very challenging in places, played very well. I wasn't the only person humming the tune from it as we left the concert hall.
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