At the Barbican Hall in London, the London Symphony Orchestra delivered a captivating performance under the baton of Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski, featuring pianist Yuja Wang in a ferocious rendition of Einojuhani Rautavaara's Piano Concerto No 1. This monumental 1969 work demands immense physicality, and Wang rose to the challenge with electrifying intensity, attacking the keyboard with clusters of notes and using her forearm to thump out melodic shapes, showcasing her bright clarity against the orchestra's adversarial backdrop, expertly judged by Peltokoski in his LSO debut.
Encores and Highlights
Following the concerto, Wang treated the audience to three encores, beginning with a richly singing Barcarolle by Finnish composer Erkki Melartin and concluding with Brahms's Hungarian Dance No 6, where she was joined by Peltokoski, himself a skilled pianist. The standout moment was her own arrangement of the desperate second movement from Shostakovich's String Quartet No 8, performed with exhilarating virtuosity that left the crowd in awe.
Peltokoski's Wagnerian Mastery
At just 25 years old, Tarmo Peltokoski has already amassed significant experience with Wagner's operas, and in this concert, he championed Henk de Vlieger's arrangement, The Ring: An Orchestral Adventure, which condenses the 16-hour Ring cycle into a little over 60 minutes. While some might argue this condensed version is geared towards Ring enthusiasts, omitting key parts like Die Walküre, the performance proved rewarding due to the orchestra's glowing form and Peltokoski's clever, slow-burn pacing.
Strategic Conducting
Peltokoski began as a discreet presence on the podium, with a small, almost impassive beat as the Rheingold music burst into sunlight, and he held back the brass even during the Ride of the Valkyries. This judicious husbanding of resources paid off, as by the time the Brünnhilde-Siegfried love music arrived, his gestures became broad and passionate, drawing out richly lyrical playing. At the climax of Siegfried's funeral music, his enthusiasm was so intense that both feet left the floor, highlighting his deep connection to the music.
The concert underscored the dynamic synergy between Wang's formidable pianism and Peltokoski's insightful conducting, making for a memorable evening of classical music that celebrated both Finnish and German compositions with fervor and precision.
