Death and life: Lutosławski, Bartók, and Mozart at the Mostly Mozart Festival

By Bachtrack reviewer, 13 August 2012

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Reviewed at Lincoln Center: Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall, New York City on 10 August 2012

Lutosławski, Musique funèbre (Funeral Music)

Bartók, Piano Concerto no. 3, Sz 119

Mozart, Symphony no. 39 in E flat major, K543

Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra

Louis Langrée, Conductor

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Piano

David Wolfson, 8th August

Langrée's incoherent but enjoyable program skips through five centuries of music history from Lully to Valerie Coleman.

***11

Edward Sava-Segal, 4th August

Jessie Montgomery's 2016 Records from a Vanishing City enthralls, Barber’s Violin Concerto is exquisite; Schumann's Rhenish disappoints.

***11

David Wolfson, 1st August

Gemma New makes a positive impressive in the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra's lively rendition of the “Prague” Symphony.

****1

David Wolfson, 25th July

The world premiere of Iraqi-American composer Amir ElSaffar's ambitious Dhikra (Remembrance) very nearly succeeds in its ambitions.

****1

David Wolfson, 5th August

Amid an uncertain future for the Mostly Mozart Festival, conductor Louis Langrée led a fiery program that overflowed with rage rather than grief.

****1

Linda Holt, 30th July

Romanticized but highly enjoyable Mozart performances, monumental Brahms, but more gusto than tenderness characterized the program.

****1