Mahler's 3rd
Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony OrchestraSuntory Hall
March 31 2010
This was one of the best performances of a Mahler symphony I have been lucky enough to hear. The conductor, Eliahu Inbal, clearly knew the work intimately. Phrase after phrase was clear, logical, nuanced, and cohesive. I was enthralled throughout.
I am so happy to know that he is now the principal conductor of this ensemble, which is one of my favorites in Tokyo; and I anxiously await hearing more.
I was impressed by how well he knew his forces and how he was able to prompt them and coax them to follow his will - they were obviously well-rehearsed and very responsive. I was also impressed by how undramatic he was - eschewing some of the flamboyant prancing around on the podium that so many Mahler conductors seem to affect.
The one slight annoying factor in the performance was the strident sound of the mechanically prepared children's chorus - they were just too much. Fortunately their bit is brief and I was able to recover from their onslaught before the rhapsodic final movement.
The mezzo soloist was the wonderfully named Iris Vermillion, and she was as sensational as her name.
Just a great, great couple hours in the concert hall.
posted by Larry Wells @ 5:18 PM
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