Alpine storm at Rudolfinum (review)

The chief conductor of the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (PRSO) Ondrej Lenárd celebrated his 70th birthday on 9 September. In connection with that occasion, the PRSO organised a congratulatory concert that took place on Saturday 13 October at the Dvořák Hall at Prague’s Rudolfinum. Under the baton of Ondrej Lenárd, the PRSO presented a programme consisting of two pieces by Richard Strauss. (...)

In the first half of the concert, the young oboist Lukáš Pavlíček sparkled, proving that he is a significant figure in the emerging generation of Czech oboists. The Concerto for Oboe and Small Orchestra originated in 1945 on the instigation of an American soldier, the oboist John de Lancie. The composer managed to make maximum use of the possibilities of the solo instrument and in his autumn years created one of the most sought-after of works. Even though the composer places no extraordinary demands on the player’s virtuosity, the ever-present solo instrument was played by Lukáš Pavlíček to the entire range of possibility offered by his changeable and clear, pure-sounding tone. Excellent technical preparation and great interplay with the orchestra turned this Strauss concerto into a genuine delicacy.

The real treat, however, was the second half of the evening, in which Strauss’ Alpine Symphony was performed. It was created in 1915 as a spectacular portrayal of the conquering of an Alpine peak and it is the composer’s most descriptive programme composition. (...) The PRSO showed itself in its best light, as if its members wanted to show how much they respect their principal conductor. Under the firm and convincing leadership of Ondrej Lenárd, the PRSO showed that the Alpine Symphony is neither cheaply flashy and overlong nor bombastically pathetic. Even without its descriptive depiction of the mountain environment, it would be a brilliant concert of the human spirit. The conductor’s ability to read the composition as if from within was in particular worthy of note. Moreover, Lenárd’s analytical ability here met with the musicality and immediate response of the orchestra’s individual groups of players. His conception was perfectly thought-out and monumental. The way he managed to balance the sound colour of the piece demonstrated that this is not the musical description of one day from morning to evening, but a depiction of grand, lived-to-the-full stages of life. The climactic moments were the Waterfall, Elegy and Storm parts. However, the close wound down very modestly as an expression of gratitude and respect to the power of nature.

While admiration belongs above all to the sound virtuosity of the composer, the Alpine Symphony is primarily a concert for a symphony orchestra whose individual players and conductor demonstrated their art to the maximum. For that they received a lengthy standing ovation from a completely packed Dvořák Hall at the Rudolfinum.