ArtsWatch

I enjoyed Belohlavek's Brahms more than you (I saw it both Thursday and Saturday) and actually thought that he had them sounding more like they did under Sawallisch than they have under just about any other conductor since Sawallisch was last here (I sat in the first row of the third tier on Thursday and near the rear of the orchestra on Saturday).

But still, assuming he'd take the position in 2012, after Dutoit's interim stint is over, Belohlavek would be 67 before his first season ends. I think they need to think it terms of someone who has the potential to stick around a fairly long time so they don't have to keep going through this process every 5-10 years.

I thought Vanska was more impressive in his recent visit than he had been in previous stops in Philadelphia. If he's back on next season's schedule, he could be someone to watch.

Sorry to read that both critics, Mr. Dobrin & Mr. Stearns, were not impressed with the Brahms from Belohlavek. For what it's worth, I heard Haitink's Brahms 2 in Chicago in March 2006, and wasn't particularly thrilled to the rafters with it myself. It sounds like what Belohlavek's was: solid, well played, unobtrusive, as is Haitink's wont, but not earth-shattering. (I was admittedly kind of tired that day too.) But the CSO went ahead and named him their Principal Conductor after that set of concerts and Beethoven 7 the week after. Go figure.

It's also interesting to read this from a distance, as I'm not in Philadelphia and obviously couldn't attend the concert, but rather in the city that's next on Belohlavek's November itinerary. He will be leading Janacek, Mozart and Mahler 4 in St. Louis this week. The orchestra hasn't seen him since 1998, and I think that many in the band are anticipating his return.

By the way, for Barry and Mr. Dobrin, how has attendance been at Verizon for the orchestra this season? Crowds at Powell have been, on the whole, dreadfully small this season, except for opening night (i.e. rather less dreadfully small rather than packed) and, from what I've heard, Slatkin's recent return. I'm just wondering if the SLSO's diminished attendance is symptomatic of a national trend, or is it just us.

Attendance hasn't been that great at most of the concerts I've attended this season. It was better this past weekend, but Sarah Chang may have had something to do with that. She's from this area and probably has a nice following here.

It sounds like cold, unfortunate comfort that it isn't just us with regard to low concert attendance. Powell has been well over half empty for most concerts that I've been to this season (it seats 2700). This is no reflection on the quality of the orchestra, of course, and even of the audiences, as since the start of Robertson's tenure, it seems to me that the audiences have been more astonishingly focused than in years. Of course, now we need to somehow increase the quantity on the audience side of the equation.

Back to Belohlavek: I've seen a review from one of his Proms concerts this year that describes him as being "too much the refined gent" in his conducting, or words to that effect. That sounds like the case here, from the reviews. On the other hand, the BBC SO extended his contract, so he must be doing something right there, compared to Slatkin. I might post a comment here post-concert here if anyone cares to read about it.

From St. Louis, the local critic's review of Belohlavek's recent concert:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/reviews.nsf/concert/story/BFE02A5B9750A8368625738F005EAB97?OpenDocument

I enjoyed the concert very much myself, except for the squally moments from the solo horn in the Mahler. Belohlavek's tempi in the 2nd & 4rd movements of the Mahler were generally slower than I was used to from recordings, but he knew what he wanted there. Otherwise, there was a definite "old world" warmth to the sound of the orchestra, especially in the Janacek, which the SLSO had never done, and which got the best performance of the evening, I thought.

If and when Isabel Leonard comes to the Philadelphia Orchestra as a guest vocalist, I can strongly recommend to all in the Philly area to check her out. She sang "Exultate, jubilate" of Mozart and in the finale of Mahler 4, which is unusual because she's a mezzo, and both those works usually feature sopranos. But she handled herself very well and got a very warm reception from both the audience and the orchestra, as well as Belohlavek.