CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
No one understands this better than Erich Leinsdorf. Now 77 years old, with a career that is as distinguished as any conductor could hope for, he refuses to rest on his laurels. There are conductors many years his junior who have become mere imitations of what they once were, repeating their gestures and repertoire, catering to a rapidly aging symphonic public by trying to stop the clock.
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The results are especially refreshing here, where, despite our magnificent orchestra, programming is far from an art form. Here programs too often consist of what the orchestra is scheduled to record or go on tour with, and then the blanks are filled in–even if the result is like eating sweet-and-sour pork, enchiladas, and fettuccine Alfredo in the same meal.
Although one could easily argue that a symphony concert is not the place for chamber music, the octet is such a large-scale piece in terms of form that it fits in rather well. All eight of the players entered the hall as soloists, which they were. In fact, this use of CSO soloists is far more aesthetically satisfying than having an individual player hack away at a Vivaldi concerto. CSO players will shine brilliantly within a chamber ensemble, provided they are given solid direction–which Leinsdorf gave in abundance. Although I would have preferred a bit quieter second movement, Leinsdorf’s balancing of the instruments and his sense of phrasing and tight ensembling was a joy. The piece often comes across as brash, but Leinsdorf was able to let much subtlety through.
Leinsdorf returned to another Stravinsky score the following week–a work also based on a story by Hans Christian Andersen (“The Snow Queen”)–the ballet The Fairy’s Kiss. Showing typical resourcefulness, Leinsdorf pulled his own excerpts from the ballet rather than perform the “Divertimento” suite that Stravinsky compiled. Leinsdorf’s excerpts gave a much clearer sense of the ballet’s structure and retained virtually the complete climax.
Leinsdorf returns to Chicago next month for two more weeks of concerts with the CSO. From the look of those programs, he will again strike a perfect program balance. By challenging himself, he manages to challenge all of us.
