I saw Freddy Kempf at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra on Monday, the 19th. It was a memorable introduction to some new music.
Pechenyuk’s Parallax started off with some chicanery, but evolved into something meaningful by the end. Pechenyuk himself came out to bow at the end, which was a bit surprising for some of the patrons who hadn’t been paying attention to Tovey earlier.
Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor was masterfully done. 3 movements of exhilarating grace, accompanied by Kempf’s Jerry lee Lewis-like hair bobbing head movements! Definitely the highlight of the evening.
Finally finishing off with Tchaikovsky’s Manfred Symphony in B minor, a piece that was a bit tedious at times, but achieved its climax with much fanfare and brass gnashing, we left the confines of the Orpheum and made our way home. What can I say? A great night and definitely a must-see for all you fans of the Russian Romantics.
Was this a good idea for a date with a new girlfriend? It seemed like it, despite the barrage of yawns at the end. Next stop: Cryptopsy!