Two stunning young Russians took over the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on Thursday. Vasily Petrenko, one of the fastest-rising young conductors in the world, was at the helm. He was joined by Kirill Gerstein, an even younger, technically dazzling pianist, for Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2.
Gerstein’s approach to the concerto was big, bold and wild. The first movement starts as a march but builds into a tumultuous showstopper. And here, Gerstein showed his mettle, playing with room-shaking power and managing a crisp staccato sound at riotous speed.
In the Andante, the work becomes gently romantic, and Gerstein made the contrast especially vivid, playing with a sweetness and spaciousness that swept over the hall. The lyric songs are Russian, of course, and Gerstein’s authentic approach seemed assured and balanced. Things picked back up for the finale and a gigantic climax.
Gerstein’s flexibility and his ability to play at rocket pace might have been influenced by his background: after training as a classical pianist in Russia, he studied jazz piano in the U.S. Two years ago, he won the Gilmore prize, awarded only every four years. He has quickly become one of the most sought-after pianists in the world.
Petrenko was a more than able partner in the concerto, matching the swells and moods of the piece. There were moments when he and Gerstein collaborated on bits of rubato with an effect that was simply magical.
Though it’s taken place mostly in Europe up to now, Petrenko’s rise has been meteoric. He’s almost 40, but looks much younger, with a resemblance to Macauley Culkin. Suddenly he seems to be everywhere, and this concert showed why. His conducting is not showy, but is a model of discipline, clarity, and command.
Sergei Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2 isn’t generally considered a crowd-pleaser. It’s nearly an hour long, and some passages can seem like a long sit. Not in this case, however. As the first movement opened somberly, Petrenko established a tension that pulled us in and never let us go. We were soon moving through gigantic crescendos, waves of powerful sound crashing through the room and summoning deep emotions. The second movement again features vivid contrasts.
The Adagio introduces a theme that became a catchy pop hit in the 70’s (Eric Carmen’s “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again”) and, for those of us in the right demographic, this over-familiarity makes it harder to appreciate. A second theme is introduced in a memorable clarinet solo, played plaintively by Laura Ardan. Petrenko almost went overboard with the schmaltz as these themes kept repeating, but most listeners seemed content to go with the flow. By the exuberant finale, Petrenko had won over just about everyone, and a roar arose from the audience.
The concert opened with Edward Elgar’s “Cockaigne Overture,” which combines patriotism and nostalgia in a tribute to London. It’s a nice starter, but seemed oddly out of place on a night of such Russian-ness.
Concert review
This concert repeats at 8:00 p.m. May 19 and 3:00 p.m. May 20. $21-$79. Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree Street, Atlanta. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org.
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