It is by some distance the most often-performed cello concerto, and after having heard it Brahms was famously reported to have said: "If only I had known such a concerto was possible for the cello, I would have tried it myself". Even without these painful personal details, we would sense the unusually intimate and personal nature of this concerto, its autumnal warmth and nostalgic glow quite alien to the traditional romantic view of the concerto.
After the extended orchestral introduction with its gorgeous horn solo, here gloriously played, Maisky entered so violently that the quality of his tone was seriously compromised. The second subject also lacked beauty, as here and throughout Maisky failed to deliver a convincing legato, instead choosing to emphasise and underline individual notes with accents, tenutos and portatos of his own divising.
His vibrato also marred the line by being alternately extremely wide, and then almost non-existent. As a result of these mannerisms and interventions, the performance was rendered devoid of true feeling and the overarching form of the work was lost. Beautiful woodwind solos from the orchestra notwithstanding, Nott was unable to save this from becoming what felt by the end like "the Maisky show". The influence in this work of his elder colleague and friend is often commented on and perhaps overstated β though there are correspondences in terms seriousness of purpose, extraordinary density of motive, and architectual unity.
The broodingly dark orchestral pallette, pained or is that erotic? It wasn't lacking in passion, either, where it was needed, and the devastating coda was shattering in its impact.
In the second movement, gleaming wind solos drifted out over the hushed susurrus of orchestral strings, masterful playing from all. Reviews All reviews Concert reviews Opera reviews Dance reviews. Events Reviews Articles Video. By Capriccio , 26 February See full listing. Reviewed at Festspielhaus, Baden-Baden on 24 February Bamberg Symphony. Jonathan Nott , Conductor. Mischa Maisky , Cello. Visiting the Philharmonie de Paris, the Bavarian orchestra and their chief conductor deliver a legendary Mahler 9.
