Jader Bignamini makes a strong impression with the Detroit Symphony

By Timothy Robson, 19 September 2020

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Reviewed at Orchestra Hall, Detroit on 18 September 2020

Walker, Lyric for Strings

Still, Serenade for Orchestra

Chevalier de Saint-George, Symphony no. 1 in G major

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Jader Bignamini, Conductor

Bignamini conducts Detroit Symphony in a resplendent Beethoven 9

Sam Jacobson, 14th May

DSO music director Jader Bignamini leads his ensemble in the glory of Beethoven’s Ninth, prefaced by a recent work written as a companion piece to the symphony.

****1

A triple serving of Salome from Fabien Gabel in Detroit

Phillip Nones, 22nd April

The French conductor leads a “Salome-centric” concert high on drama and color, joined by Nicolas Altstaedt in presenting a cello concerto new to American audiences.

****1

France meets Russia at the Detroit Symphony

Erica Miner, 3rd December

Enrique Mazzola conducts an intriguing combination of a French work and a Russian work with a French title focusing on turn-of-the-century France.

***11

The concerto reconstructed: Detroit Symphony plays Sorey premiere

Annie Nikunen, 6th November

DSO plays Florence Price's Five Folksongs in Counterpoint and performs the world premiere of Tyshawn Sorey's For Marcos Balter for violin and orchestra with Jennifer Koh.

*****

Jacquelyn Stucker thrills in Strauss with the Detroit Symphony

Timothy Robson, 23rd October

Donald Runnicles conducted an imaginative chamber version of Strauss' testamentary Lieder, plus Elgar's own take on the concerto grosso form in his Introduction and Allegro.

***11

Shostakovich the stand-out in a half-hearted Detroit program

Brian Wigman, 10th December

An uninspired evening of classics, that nonetheless showed off the many sides of Shostakovich.

**111

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Timothy Robson

We are saddened to learn of the death of Tim Robson, a long-time Bachtrack contributor (2012-21). Tim was an organist in Cleveland, Ohio and his repertoire extended to all musical periods, with a special interest in contemporary music. As a blogger he was a regular contributor to ClevelandClassical.com. In his parallel career as a librarian, Tim was Associate Director for Academic Engagement at the Kelvin Smith Library of Case Western Reserve University. Our condolences to his family.