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| Alexis Kossenko |
Location: Bourgie Hall, Montreal, January 12,
2 p.m.
Arion
Baroque brought passion to the podium with conductor and flautist, Alexis
Kossenko
What an
exciting concert – not just because of the magnificent musicians’ performance of
a well-knitted program, but because, conductor, Alexis Kossenko understood each
work and made it his own sinew and soul.
Wafting hands, bending knees, tilting his head with eyes so expressive with
each phrase performed, the French conductor showed how compositions by Gossec,
Mozart, Devienne and Haydn are meant to be interpreted.
Mr. Kossenko’s
virtuoso flute playing was flabbergasting – as heard in his stunningly
sensitive performance of Devienne’s “Concerto no. 7 in E Minor”. At one point,
it seemed like he was playing two notes simultaneously as he blew into his
flute beautifully matched with superfast finger dexterity This opening Allegro was played with robust attack by the orchestra, yet not a
note went wayward. The timing between flute and orchestra was impeccable.
My favorite
work was a new surprise for me and others. A perfect composition, François
Joseph Gossec’s “Symphony no. 2 in E-flat Major” is so stirring in contrast
with subtlety in the opening Largo,
and drama in the final Allegro without
overkill, this work reveals why this Mannheim school-influenced composer was a darling
among the French aristocratic, and why he was considered the father of the
symphony in France. The saintly sonority and godly balance between string and winds
flowing into the five uninterrupted movements makes its own epiphany: there is
perfection on earth and you can hear it.
And then
there was Mozart – specifically heard here in “Symphony Concerto in E-flat
major”. The blend of flute, oboe, bassoon and horn was a shew-in for Arion’s Co-artistic,
director Matthieu Lussier to arrange. The story on this piece is it was lost
but then came to light in contemporary times, but the composer of it remained a
mystery. The work though impeccably performed was not a stand-out composition. Mr.
Lussier is a brilliant bassoonist and he polished of lightning-speed passages
with panache. I must signal the stunning tone and playing of the oboist whose
name was not featured in the program notes, and it should have been.
Finally,
Haydn’s “Symphony No. 85”, “La Reine”. Dashingly dotted by rhythms both turbulent
and tender with rapid scales that embody the traditional French overture also
featured the popular French song, “le gentile et jeune Lisette”. Romance,
Minuet and Vivace form a collage
of exciting movements where drama, anxiety and sweetness fall perfectly into
sequential variation. Perfection!
Contact www.arionbaroque.com to get tickets to
Arion’s next concerts in February. Bach is the biggie on the program. Call
514-355-1825.
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