The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) opened its 2007-2008 season last Thursday with an all-Ravel program. Featuring mezzo-soprano Susan Graham and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, conductor James Levine led the BSO in a smooth performance that included "Alborada del Gracioso," "Shéhérazade (three poems for voice and orchestra)," Piano Concerto in G, and Suite No.2 from "Daphnis et Chloé."
Maurice Ravel was an important composer at the turn of the century and now forms a staple of impressionistic repertoire. In this season's program notes, Levine notes how his choice of composer is a careful study of language and history: "I've chosen [Ravel]," he writes, "in the way one might choose Haydn or Mozart as representatives of the late 18th century: each is a composer who used the specific musical language of his time in a uniquely individual way."
While Ravel is not an easy composer to love, unlike his Romantic predecessors, Levine's conducting of the program straddles perfection, as always. Levine's rapport with the orchestra and charisma with the audience is delightful to watch, and the BSO is on top of their game in their expressiveness and musicality.
"Alborada del Gracioso" was a spry, mischievous opening to the evening. This lofty Spanish-themed piece carried a mysterious undertone, with a slight touch of tangy dissonance and a strong finish.
"Shéhérazade" featured Grammy winner Susan Graham, a mezzo-soprano, as soloist. This set of three vocal poems by Tristan Klingsor, set to Ravel's score, referred to faraway lands and peoples with fluid exoticism. The first song, "Asie," highlighted Graham's tonal clarity and BSO's characteristically flourishing strings and trumpets, which vaguely overwhelmed the voice at times in their breadth.
"La Fl?»te Enchantée," the second poem, indeed offered enchanting highlights of flute, as the song progressed softly and gracefully - a watery, streaming movement. "L'Indifférent," was a measured, deliberate study of a stranger paused in the doorway, and evoked imagery of the purposeful stillness of time.
World-renowned pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet was the highlight of Opening Night in his performance of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G. Thibaudet, who debuted with the BSO at Tanglewood in 1992, graced Symphony Hall with his instrument's agile expressiveness and the dynamic lucidity of his interpretation.
"Allegramente," the first movement began with a playful and spry rhythmic romp, emphasizing Thibaudet's lofty fingering of the keys and masterful control of phrasing, dynamics and rapid changes of mood. A faint, silvery harp interlude was also notable.
In "Presto," the piano transformed into an impressionist, rocky stream, with galloping bliss sustained by the orchestra's strong baseline movement. The Concerto terminated in a lively and exciting conclusion.
For Opening Night, the BSO also performed Suite No. 2 from "Daphnis et Chloé," Ravel's ballet. For next week's program, the Orchestra will perform the complete ballet, along with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus under the direction of conductor John Oliver. It's Ravel's longest piece of work, based on a third-century love story by the Greek writer Longus. Serge Diaghilev's Russian ballet performed the stage version of Ravel's work for the first time in 1812.
Suite No.2 from "Daphnis et Chloé" is the daybreak, pantomime, danse générale sequence, and started off with beautiful, ethereal longing. The swelling of its melody is fruitful and caloric, with artful lyricism by the first violins. This piece had a certain magical quality about it: its subtly quiet moments managed to maintain tension underneath, and the mysterious and inconclusive wind solos were harbingers of another world to come. The "fortes," too, were bright and frenetic, ending in a swift, succinct drama.
Also to look forward to is opera star Renée Fleming's performance of 20th century French composer Henri Dutilleux's "Le Temps l'Horloge" in late November. This will be the U.S. premiere of the piece, conducted by Levine as part of the co-commission of the Orchestra's 125th anniversary.
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, a 15-time Grammy winner, returns to the BSO in early December to play Osvaldo Golijov. Yo-Yo Ma, who has recently completed a number of classical crossover projects influenced by a variety of world genres, is a frequent soloist at Symphony Hall.
Tufts students can take advantage of the BSO's new program for local colleges: with the College Card, students have a chance to attend up to 19 concerts and eight open rehearsals with one $25 card. The tickets can be redeemed with a Tufts ID at the BSO box office on the day of the performance. For more information, see www.bso.org.
