All Beethoven program shines
The Toledo Symphony has been all about Beethoven this week.
Sunday last the Brazilian pianist Arnaldo Cohen performed three of the composer's most renowned sonatas - Op. 13, Op. 53, and Op. 110 - to open this celebration of the 18th century German composer.
Friday night came another installment: performances of Beethoven Piano Concertos No. 2, 3, and 4 by the absolutely whiz-bang Canadian pianist Louis Lortie with a very sympathetic Toledo Symphony, Stefan Sanderling conducting.
And Saturday night, the conclusion will make plain the development of one of the world's most influential composers with Concertos No. 1 and 5.
It's the first time the symphony has offered such a concentrated serving of one composer. The effort makes a statement about Beethoven, of course, but also about audience expectations.
Most programs sample from various periods and styles, some short, some longer, usually one of major duration. Focusing instead on Beethoven's major concertos in two evenings helps enunciate the development of this brilliant musician - famed as a pianist too. It allows listeners to trace his command of the form and vocabulary while shaping his memorable, peculiar style.
In last night's program, the program started with Beethoven's embrace of Classical styles a la Mozart and Haydn in his second concerto, one of two completed in 1795. Concerto No. 3 (1797) displayed his moves away from the secure harmonics and scales and arpeggios of the earlier works.
As Concerto No. 4 began, the bold new innovations of Beethoven became clear within the first dozen or so measures.
Lortie was a perfect fit for the role - flawless technique, sparkling spontaneity, delicacy balanced with great sonority and power, and yet a palpable humility paying homage to Beethoven. With strong and supple support from the symphony and warm leadership by Sanderling, the concert was a triumph - no more, no less.
The TSO concludes its 2009 Beethoven festival tonight with concertos No. 1 and 5 at 8 p.m. in the Peristyle. Tickets are at www.toledosymphony.com or the door.
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