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Wednesday, 24 August 2011

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Jurowski on Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony

He is one of the five leading conductors in the world and will not be long, getting right to the top. He is an addict to millions who have seen him around the globe. Each time I watch him conduct, his stature seems to have grown in an amazing aura of professionalism. Someone who can grip the mind and spirit of each and all who come in contact with him. One good reason I go to London in the summer is to see him play or conduct and each time I see Jurowski, he is more spectacular than before.

What is the reason behind Vladimir Jurowski's never-ending success? I cannot comprehend nor do I try to because I have no words to describe this enigma. Yet, I can swear by one aspect from his genius is that Jurowski is able to resurrect any composer from his grave and give us the feeling that his spirit is hovering around us as Jurowski wields his baton over the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He simply dazzles his audiences.

Why on earth did he pick on Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony? among all the brilliant scores the immortal composer had scored during his lifetime for this summer season. Then it suddenly dawned on me; could have been the combination of Wagner's Overture, Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg and Four Last Songs of Strauss and crate a magical inspiration to the summer's beauty. I was also wondering where did I hear Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony played and my memory ran back to Sri Lanka. I cannot recall the year but it was Ananda Dabare conducting the Fourth Symphony at Ladies College Hall along with a Piano Concerto No 1 of Rachmaninov. I always admire Dabare on the violin and he is the finest on this string instrument in our country. But conducting? I saw him only once.

Vladimir Jorowski conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, London.

The vibrant Jurowski who has achieved remarkable feats in classical music inspired by Mehler as a child, without sacrificing an ounce of human response to his music making, stands out as a pillar of strength to his cherished orchestra. One can see it by their body language when performing. They all drew out inspiration from their icon.

The Fifth Symphony

In E minor, Op.64 composed in 1888 in the musical expressions of melancholy which few composers have been able to match.

He was determined not to weigh down the listener in sheer gloom but rather present a healing balm. The Fifth Symphony is less exuberant than its predecessors, based in several departures from convention.

He replaced the usual third movement Scherzo with a Waltz. Its most famous movement is the second, the Andante Cantabile, with a haunting melody introduced by the solo French horn. Perhaps, because of the variety of expressions in the Fifth Symphony, would have been the reason that opted Jurowski to pick this score for the summer season. The symphony offers a different kind of cycle revealing the multi-aspects of Tchaikovsky's dark and melancholy personality. An unkind fate that prevented an impetus towards happiness from reaching its goal. But the Fifth Symphony glides through smoothly in vigour and as well as with contempt but distinguished by its magnificent power which Vladimir Jurowski presented in a virtuoso piece of orchestral scoring which the London Philharmonic Orchestra is famous for. I would have found this symphony to be heavy and overly-classical under another conductor but it sat easy on me under his baton.

This is what makes Jurowski so different from others. Talking about Jurowski is like talking about my love for Shakespeare and Nureyev.

I am much adapt to Tchaikovsky's music like a duck taking to water, because of ballet for which he wrote three suites; Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. He also scored the Fantasy Overture of Romeo an Juliet in 1869. This wondrous music was written when he was a struggling young composer. But I never heard Jurowski playing any of these or for that matter, even part of any especially all these scores were written in Russia at different times at unprecedented heights of perfection by Tchaikovsky.In transcription, Tchaikovsky's works attracted many famous composers and pianists who were responsible for alternate scores, some of which are;

Pletnyev - The Concert Suite from the Nutcracker

Grainger - Paraphase on Waltze of Flowers in the Nutcracker

Liszt - Paraphrase on the Polonaise from Eugene Onegin

Pabst - Paraphrase on Fugene Onegin

 

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