Montreal concert review Oct 09

Vengerov conducts himself with class

BY ARTHUR KAPTAINIS, THE GAZETTE OCTOBER 22, 2009

 Shall we be frank? Maxim Vengerov did not surrender his unofficial status as the top violinist in the world by choice. The Siberian has said little about the shoulder injury that forced him to exchange a Stradivarius for a baton two years ago, but he served notice Tuesday with his MSO debut as a conductor that he has retained his gift for making music.

The big number in this Place des Arts concert was Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique." This is a profoundly confessional work, and so it seemed, especially in the solemn finale, where the strings were at their most lavish and Vengerov was at his most demonstrative.

Not that the performance was all rough-and-ready emotion. Brass climaxes in the first movement were sharply defined, not just blasted out. Woodwind dialogues were delicate. The opening bassoon solo struck me as a little drawn out, but otherwise the tempo control was compelling.

Vengerov is no Nureyev on the podium. Mostly we see his backside, with arms making the mandatory up-and-down motions. But musical projection is what counts, and this left little to be desired. I suspect the high regard in which he is held by musicians will stand him in good stead as his expands activities as a conductor.

Before intermission we heard Brahms Double Concerto. Hands-free in Tchaikovsky, Vengerov used the score for this and did decent work. Principal cello Brian Manker was the warm storyteller, concertmaster Andrew Wan the rapier wit. They came to terms handsomely.