Violinist Itzhak Perlman is one of the most admired musicians of our time, an artist and humanitarian who has won countless accolades and awards. But in his concert with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on Saturday night in Music Hall, it was not his celebrity, but rather, his genuine warmth and humanity that shone through every note of his music making.
Saturday's concert to open the Cincinnati Symphony's 117th season was historic in several ways. Perlman, 66, in his first visit back to the Queen City since 1995, not only performed as soloist, but also made his CSO conducting debut in a rewarding program that included Dvorak's Symphony No. 8. Cameras were stationed in the hall for the orchestra's first live simulcast to the other side of the Ohio River, where a crowd at Newport on the Levee watched the concert for free.
And for the sixth time in less than 24 months, the orchestra had a completely sold out concert, with the cavernous 3,417-seat hall packed.
On the eve of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Perlman paid tribute to the victims with J.S. Bach's "Air" for strings from the orchestral Suite No. 3, performed in the concert's second half. His approach as he sat on the conductor's podium was one of reverence, but this was not a dirge. Rather, it unfolded with simplicity and beauty, allowing the music to speak for itself.
The violinist, who had polio as a child, received the first of many standing ovations as he entered the stage and made his way on crutches to his chair to perform as soloist and conductor in Bach's Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, to open the evening. Leading the baroque-sized orchestra of strings and harpsichord continuo (Michael Chertock), he established a vibrant tempo and played along in the tutti sections, sometimes conducting his colleagues with his bow. His sweet, golden sound soared from the orchestral textures in his solos.
He achieved the extraordinary color on his Stradivarius, particularly in the slow movement, which had a timeless quality. Perlman played with clear affection for this music, and smiled through his effortless phrases.
Mozart's Symphony No. 25, K. 183, sometimes called the "little" G Minor, rounded out the program's first half. As conductor, Perlman inspired alert, precise playing from his musicians (who included, in the horn section, his son-in-law, Robert Johnson). He cultivated a dark, intense sound in the "Allegro con brio," but his tempos were never rushed - as is often the case among today's maestros. A highlight was the mysterious color he drew from the strings in the finale, wonderfully balancing the contrasts of light and dark in this early Mozart work.
The program concluded with Dvorak's Symphony No. 8 in G Major. It is one of the Czech composer's sunniest works, and a wealth of Bohemian folk melodies unfold, one after another, through each of its four movements.
Perlman's attention to details of phrasing and string ensemble were clear from the outset; the warmth and sonority of the cellos and basses was extraordinary. The conductor balanced the delicate tunes in the winds with thrilling buildups in the brass and timpani. There were many memorable contributions from the players, including the soulful Bohemian tune played by the clarinets in the slow movement and the flawless trumpet fanfares to open the finale (Robert Sullivan and Steve Pride).
Perlman seemed to revel most in the third movement, a glorious waltz for the strings. He led vigorously and with unflagging spirit, expertly conveying both the lyrical beauty and the spontaneity of Dvorak's music. In the finale, he lingered a bit, projecting a nostalgic mood before bringing the work to a galvanizing finish. The crowd approved with deafening cheers and a lengthy standing ovation
The celebration didn't stop there. An after-party throughout the hall treated everyone to champagne and desserts. And in the grand foyer, the Cincinnati Klezmer Project raised the roof and inspired some lively dancing.
The Cincinnati Symphony season continues with Rafael Frübeck de Burgos conducting, Sept. 22 and 24 in Music Hall. Tickets: 513-381-3300, www.cincinnatisymphony.org.
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