Emanuel Ax replaced André Watts tonight for the Philadelphia Orchestra's opening concert at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. The two sure are different kinds of pianists. Ax is measured where Watts is volatile. And with Watts, the compensation for a few acts of approximation is a very interesting performance. Ax was a lot of things tonight, but interesting wouldn't be the first word I'd use to describe his Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2. A review is slated for Saturday's Inquirer.
Watts, by the way, is out with an injury, says Charles Dutoit.
