San Fransisco Symphony in fine form in Michigan

By Brian Wigman, 15 November 2014

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Reviewed at University of Michigan: Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor on 14 November 2014

Liszt, Mephisto Waltz no. 1, "Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke", S 514

Prokofiev, Violin Concerto no. 2 in G minor, Op.63

Ravel, Daphnis et Chloé

San Francisco Symphony

University of Michigan Chorus

Gil Shaham, Violin

Michael Tilson Thomas, Conductor

Full symphonic grandeur from Salonen and the SF Symphony

Lois Silverstein, 6th October

Sayaka Shoji and Salonen remain in close dialogue in a riveting performance of Shostakovich's First Violin Concerto.

****1

Finnish footprints in San Francisco: Salonen conducts Sibelius

Lois Silverstein, 14th March

As the news breaks that Esa-Pekka Salonen will be leaving at the end of his San Francisco Symphony tenure, he conducts the music of his fellow Finn, Jean Sibelius.

****1

Hail and farewell: MTT’s last Mahler in San Francisco

Cameron Kelsall, 25th January

After 50 years of performances with the San Francisco Symphony, including a quarter-century tenure as Music Director, Michael Tilson Thomas chooses Mahler’s Fifth Symphony for his final subscription concert.

****1

Bach-inspired Mendelssohn in San Francisco

Edward Sava-Segal, 17th February

An exquisite rendition of Mendelssohn's Lobgesang makes one wonder why the work is not part of the regular repertoire.

****1

MTT offers familiar and unfamiliar Stravinsky in San Francisco

Edward Sava-Segal, 29th September

In a program including both modernist and neoclassical works, Michael Tilson Thomas and the SFO emphasized the common traits characterizing Stravinsky's entire ouevre.

****1

A phenomenally multi-layered Mahler 3 in San Francisco

Theodora Serbanescu-Martin, 29th June

Michael Tilson Thomas, Sasha Cooke, and choristers from the Pacific Boychoir and San Francisco Chorus come together in a phenomenal performance of Mahler's all-encompassing Third Symphony.

*****

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Brian Wigman

Brian Wigman is based in the Detroit Metropolitan Area and enjoys a working relationship as a writer with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He has over 15 years of intensive choral experience. In addition to Bachtrack, he also writes CD reviews for ClassicalNet. His interests range from the Classical period to the 21st Century, with a particular emphasis on Beethoven and Brahms.

Michael Tilson-Thomas and the San Fransisco Symphony in fine form in Michigan