It was all Mozart on Saturday night as conductor Bernard Labadie and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, aided by pianist Benedetto Lupo, filled Disney Hall with the vibrant sounds of the master’s later works. It was a refreshing way to end the year, as the orchestra takes a holiday break before returning in the first week of January.
Beginning with the Chaconne from the ballet music for the opera “Idomeneo,” a milestone from the young Mozart’s career, Labadie went for a thicker, detailed sound that was impressively crisp. He certainly knew what he wanted from the orchestra; there was a significant attention to detail that never seemed fussy or bogged down. He took care in shaping the contours of each phrase, and the music sounded immediate and new.
“Piano Concerto No. 27” was the last piano music that Mozart ever wrote and in it is a highly personal statement. Lupo was just the person to explore its subtleties. The first thing one notices about his playing is his tone, which is very dreamy and bell-like in its sonority. With that, he added a great deal of care and sensitivity to the interpretation; every bit of his body carefully controlled his action. It was an interesting complement to the sprightly playing that Labadie was getting out of the orchestra.
The second movement really brought out the Lupo’s breadth and the whole piece ended with a neatly manicured package that was the third movement. I’m inclined to seek out more of Lupo’s work after hearing this concerto.
Labadie’s approach and conducting looked a bit demanding and some steam was missing from the first movement of Mozart’s last symphony, “Symphony No. 41,” “Jupiter.” Having taken up the baton in an unorthodox, self-taught manner, he has a propensity to over-conduct at times, with a lot of cueing. If anything, it reflects just how precise he expects the orchestra to be with the sound and dynamic he’s looking for. His style paid off handsomely in the subsequent movements.
The second, the andante cantible, featured silky strings and wonderful woodwinds that gave heft to the sound and a longing tone. A slippery and interesting minuet was followed by a boisterous final movement that was met with enthusiastic applause. Labadie is the kind of conductor who visibly loves the music and that infectious vitality was a major reason for the evening’s success.
Ebner Sobalvarro is a Los Angeles-based classical music and jazz aficionado. Having studied English at Boston College, he shares his passions for music at his blog cornerbooth.tumblr.com. Email him at ebner.sobalvarro@gmail.com.
