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.
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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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