Martin Helmchen, soloist in Robert Schumann´s Piano Concerto

PARIS:  Orchestre National de France presented January 10th. An interesting program combination conducted by the brilliant conductor ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA, – who a few days after were being announced as new music director of the Houston Symphoni Orchestre. 

Review by Henning Høholt

It started with Zoltán Kodály´s Dances from Galanta, great to enjoy, Kodály´s musically language is great. You feel deeply the composers Hungarian national sound
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. We enjoyed a wonderful cello sound in the first of the dances, and an extraordinary Clarinet solo, later followed by flute and oboe. The temperament was so i nearly could feel the conductors Columbian nativity

. An interesting opening , unusual, as unfortunately it is not often we listen to Kodály´s music, still that this Dances from Galanta is programmed regularly. I hope that the Orchestra also in the future would programme Kodály´s Harry Janos Suite, that would be a renewing of the Kodaly program.

Robert Schumanns brilliant Piano Concerto followed with the great German pianist Martin Helmschen as outstanding soloist, with many beautiful details in his performing
. Good musicality in this concerto. Teh young pianist showed brilliant, technical virtuosity and remarkable good details. Furthermore it was a pleasure to note the god cooperation between the soloist and the orchestra, through the conductors great musicality. During the play, deliciousy flute accents on top of the piano top tunes in the first part. Martin Helmschen returned the large applaus with a Schumann encore
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Andres Orozco-Estrada, photo: Julie Soefer

Sergei Rachmaninovs Symphonique Dances opus 54 followed. Even that the orchestra played the Symphonic Dances with great inspiration and entusiasm, I found that the Three Dances was bohring. Historically it was Ok to get them presented for the audience, but I would have prefered something else tonight as the final number.

Please enjoy our presentation of ANDRÉS OROZCO-ESTRADA and his coming position in Houston at:  http://www.kulturkompasset.com/2013/01/andres-orozco-estrada-as-new-music-director-for-houston-symphony/