Tokyo Performances

Mahler 9th - Japan Philharmonic

Japan Philharmonic - Mahler 9th
Conducted by Ken-ichiro Kobayashi
Suntory Hall - 25 January

After his spectacular Mahler's 3rd a year ago, I was looking forward to this. The whole performance, however, was an exercise in playing the notes without much emotional content. He conducted without a score - showing off? Someone told me it was his first Mahler 9th - so using the score might not have been a bad idea. But, there will be two opportunities to hear other Tokyo orchestras do Mahler's 9th next month. What other city in the world would have that much conflict of interest? (Perhaps it's because this symphony is just about 100 years old.) In essence it was $60 down the tubes for a mediocre performance. C'est la vie.

posted by Larry Wells @ 9:35 PM