Andris Nelsons at NY Philharmonic
February 11, 2011
* Notes *
Last week Andris Nelsons conducted the New York Philharmonic in a program of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5. Pianist Jonathan Biss sounded less mechanical than I remembered. He listened to the orchestra and kept with them. The Allegro con brio was agile and the Largo rather dreamy. The Shostakovich was engaging and well-played. The Allegretto was biting, the Largo here elegant.
* Tattling *
There was light talking from students. Biss had an odd way of bobbling his head during the final movement of the Beethoven. The maestro made many dramatic gesticulations and made low gutteral sounds as he conducted.