United States R. Schumann, Bruckner: Yefim Bronfman (piano), San Francisco Symphony / Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor). Davies Symphony Corridor, San Francisco, 23.6.2024. (HS)

R. Schumann – Piano Concerto in A minor
Bruckner – Symphony No.4 in E-flat main, ‘Romantic’

I missed conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen’s performances of Bruckner’s Symphony No.6 final season, the one Bruckner he has carried out throughout his two years as music director of the San Francisco Symphony. I used to be keen to listen to how issues would possibly fare with the composer’s Symphony No.4 at a time when the way forward for the orchestra has develop into a scorching subject of dialog.

In March, Salonen introduced that he is not going to proceed as music director after his contract ends in June 2025. His assertion mentioned that he and the board don’t agree on the orchestra’s plans, and a bristly debate has opened amongst insiders and abnormal concertgoers over simply what is occurring. A press release from the musicians referred to as for the board of governors to reverse course, and there was no indication that the board has even begun a seek for a alternative.

Audiences have been enthusiastically supportive as Salonen has carried out the orchestra’s June performances. At some live shows, banners have urged him to remain. At any time when he picks up a microphone, as he did earlier than the Bruckner on Sunday, he will get a rousing response. He spoke to salute a number of longtime musicians (and the stage supervisor) who’re retiring after the June live shows. Their a long time of labor have ‘contributed to the DNA of what makes this orchestra what it’s’, he mentioned, including, ‘In that manner they reside on for so long as this orchestra exists’.

Within the efficiency that adopted, Salonen tempered his propensity towards rigorous adherence to the rating with a welcome willingness to nudge tempos seeking additional colours and versatile phrasing in what can come off as a repetitious work. The musicians, for his or her half, appeared primed to react to each flick of the baton. It was a revelatory studying, an excellent, majestic mixture of precision and a kind of natural swelling and swerving that introduced the rating to life.

Bruckner’s symphonies typically check my endurance at occasions. In contrast to Mahler, with whom he’s typically in contrast as a result of their symphonies are equally lengthy, Bruckner resisted tweaking particulars within the recurring phrases that pepper his symphonies. The fourth time intoning the identical brass hymn can get my eyes rolling.

Salonen subtly adjusted dynamics at any time when a repetition got here round. He allowed tempos to loosen up a bit main into and out of those mileposts on the lengthy journey that Bruckner symphonies are. At each flip, he selected a super tempo, one which allowed the sonics to bloom with none sense of dragging. The outcome was a contemporary, ear-caressing interpretation.

Bruckner revised the rating not less than seven occasions between the symphony’s debut in 1874 and the ultimate model in 1888. Salonen selected the 1880 model (in an version revealed in 1953), wherein the composer discarded his unique rapid-fire Scherzo in favor of a picturesque piece that offers the horn part an opportunity to create certainly one of music’s higher tally-ho moments. It was a sensible choice, largely as a result of the horn part was in nice kind.

The brass, expanded to eight along with six horns, produced very good sound and readability, modifying textures and dynamics simply sufficient to convey freshness to every repetition of their fanfares, hymns and, sure, galloping hunt music. For his half, visiting hornist Jeffrey Truthful (principal horn of the Seattle Symphony) intoned the delicate opening name with precision and beautiful tone, and dealt with the various returns of that theme with distinctiveness.

Salonen was particularly adept in bringing out contrasts, which abound on this symphony. The delicate opening, the solo horn towards a barely audible tremolo within the strings, progressively expanded right into a broad assertion that was shortly adopted by the sighs of a lighter, dancelike part. Likewise, the bouncy hunt music yielded properly to a mild ländler within the Scherzo. These shifts between energy and tenderness, between urgency and hesitance, had been crucial in bringing depth and expression to the proceedings.

Among the many solos, principal flutist Yubeen Kim, affiliate principal clarinetist Matthew Griffith and affiliate principal oboist James Button made probably the most of their moments within the highlight. The Finale, one other motion that Bruckner refashioned to a big extent, stored rising to reverberant climaxes, the final pages reaching a elegant stage.

To open the live performance, pianist Yefim Bronfman downplayed any showoff fireworks and delivered a deft and eloquent efficiency of Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in E-flat. The give-and-take between orchestra and soloist was a delight. A fast tempo and glorious communication with Salonen stored all of it sprightly, even the Intermezzo which made a pleasant breather between the outer actions.

Harvey Steiman