Vienna Symphony Excels Under Urbański's Energetic Baton

The Vienna Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Krzysztof Urbański, presented a program that captivated the audience, even as the conductor's energetic stage presence drew considerable attention. Urbański's distinctive conducting style, marked by expressive movements, was a constant visual element throughout the evening.

“

One could hardly look away from Krzysztof Urbański's fascinatingly artfully gelled hairstyle, and wonder if even a single hair would move out of its strict order during the increasingly agitated evening.

The concert opened with Dmitri Shostakovich's Scherzo Op. 1, a piece described as a relatively unchallenging early work. This was followed by Pablo Ferrández performing Elgar's Cello Concerto. Ferrández navigated the concerto's emotional depths with apparent feeling, supported by the orchestra's admirably light yet powerful sound. Even in the more demanding tutti passages, the Vienna Symphony demonstrated a robust capability.

“

The Vienna Symphony Orchestra offered an admirably light, supportive sound – and yet still packed a powerful punch in the tutti passages.

Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring' served as the evening's demanding finale. The orchestra met the challenge head-on, delivering a performance that was both technically proficient and artistically compelling. The bassoon's opening solo was noted for its beauty, and the string section's pizzicato passages were particularly resonant. The overall execution of the piece was described as crisp and engaging, allowing the audience to 'listen with pleasure' despite the visual intensity of the performance.

“

Stravinsky's 'Le Sacre' was ultimately the ultimate hair test. But it was also an excellently mastered challenge for the performers.

Urbański's direction, while visually striking, ultimately served the music, guiding the orchestra through a repertoire that demanded both precision and passion. The musicians responded with a performance that highlighted their skill and adaptability, successfully interpreting complex works by renowned composers.

“

Enchanting – almost too beautiful! – the not at all hoarse introduction of the bassoon, wonderfully sounding pizzicati from the first violins and good coordination among themselves ensured a crisp 'Rite of Spring', which one could listen to with pleasure, even if one could hardly look away.