Classical Masters 1&2
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra / Stephen Kovacevich
Adelaide Town Hall
Fri 15 July

In a unique two-week residency famed American born pianist Stephen Kovaceich returned as soloist and conductor for two programmes built around Mozart piano concertos and early Beethoven symphonies. Adelaide is very fortunate that Kovacevich has taken such a liking to its symphony orchestra and the acoustics of Town Hall and when these factors combine, there is always a great sense of enjoyment from all musicians involved.

Kovacevich is undoubtedly one of the finest Classical period specialists before the public and as always with this regular guest musician; much thought has gone into choices of programming.

Again he has chosen to present piano concertos by his first musical love - Mozart - one week presenting Mozart at his most intimate (#18) and the nest, the more extrovert grandeur tableau of #25.

First and foremost Kovacevich is a chamber musician and this is apparent from his placement of the piano amid the strings with the winds behind him in these works and what amazed me was the way in which many of the lines, and not only in the concerti, but Haydn and two early Beethoven symphonies, were songlike with Kovacevich as conductor even resorting to a Gouldian vocalese to demonstrate just how he wanted the phrases to sound. This approach made particular sense in #25 where suggestions of 'Idomeneo' and 'The Magic Flute' are suggested in this aria like writing. In this Teutonic repertoire the strings and winds excelled throughout but a pleasant inclusion lay in Faure's incidental music to Maeterlinck's Pelleas et Melisande which would in turn also inspire not only Debussy and Sibelius but Schoenberg.

Following on from his fine EMI disc of French chamber music with flautist Emmanuel Pahud, this performance showed a true love for the post-Tristanesque fin de siecle sound world with Faure's sly Wagnerian digs. Here as elsewhere, the strings responded with brio and wit, whilst the horns and the flute of Geoffrey Collins deserve individual praise. For those fascinated by musical history and the many links between Mozart, Haydn and his erstwhile pupil Beethoven, Kovacevich's choice of programmed works provided a virtuosic and educative musical evening.

Brett Allen-Bayes