Tokyo Symphony
Tokyo Symphony Subscription Concert No.565
Saturday, 21st March, 2009, Suntory Hall
Conductor : Hubert Soudant
Mezzo-soprano : Mutsumi Taniguchi
Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
Schubert: Symphony No.7 “Unfinished”
Schubert: Rosamunde, Furstin von Zypern, D.797
Excerpts from a review by Yomiuri Shimbun music critic Yukio Miyake
<Beauty and catastrophe expressed without flinching.>
The Tokyo Symphony’s highly acclaimed Schubert cycle ended with Schubert’s Rosamunde, Furstin von Zypern. The TSO music director, Hubert Soudant, brought a unique interpretation to this work, which itself has a weak structure.
………I was rather impressed by the performance of Symphony No.7, the first half of the programme. The second movement, a movement sans vibration of violins, was like a silk thread stretched taut. Without flinching Mr. Soudant drove a wedge of powerful sound by timpani and trumpets into a musical flow which was swayed by the delicate sounds of the strings.
The orchestra’s performance suggested beauty is followed by catastrophe: the very beginning of the development section of the first movement sent a shiver down my spine as the bass sound sank endlessly.
Symphony No.7 displaying bottomless depth and the simple Rosamunde -- I was perplexed by the two different sides of the composer.
Excerpts from a review by Asahi Shimbun music critic Seiji Choki
<Full of sensitive ideas>
Among Tokyo-based orchestras, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra is the best, a rising orchestra highly acclaimed these days.
………Symphony No.7 is part of the popular orchestral repertoire so I had thought it might be difficult to perform it in a fresh way. But I shouldn’t have worried on that point. The music started smoothly and the phrasing flowed beautifully. Without doubt the audience didn’t feel the orchestra was performing music in three beat, and returning to the musical flow from a stage of idleness was one of the mysteries of their performance.
The TSO never performed roughly and their careful expression was on expansive display. Mutsumi Taniguchi, mezzo-soprano, sang in a quiet mood under the tender and rich capacity of Mr. Soudant’s direction. I listened intently to the famous intermezzo and dances of Rosamunde, which brought the Schubert cycle to a close.
Tokyo Symphony
Tokyo Symphony Subscription Concert No.561
Saturday, 1st November 2008, 6:00p.m. Suntory Hall
Conductor : Hubert Soudant
Piano : Andrea Lucchesini
Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
Schubert: Symphony No.3 in D major, D.200
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.4 in G major, op.58
Schubert: Symphony No.2 in B flat major, D.125
Ongaku-no-Tomo (excerpts, music magazine) by Hiroo Tojo, music critic
The TSO Schubert cycle by Music Director, Hubert Soudant has been
very successful. Tonight's programme included Schubert's Symphonies
No.2 and No.3.
The orchestra gave an outstanding performance showing a supple
and flexible driving force in Symphony No.2. The 2nd movement was
noteworthy for the preciseness of the orchestra's sounds as in chamber
music. At the beginning of the 4th movement, each of principal players
in the string section performed enthusiastically as a solo voice.
As always Mr. Soudant and the TSO performed sensitively. Phrasing,
harmony and rhythm are all well-thought-out. The TSO Schubert cycle
in collaboration between Mr. Soudant and the TSO is now showing
remarkable results.
Tokyo
Symphony Kawasaki Concert
Friday, 26th September 2008, 7:00p.m. Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall
Tokyo
Symphony Subscription Concert No.559
Saturday, 27th September 2008, 6:00p.m. Suntory Hall
Conductor : Hubert Soudant
Violin : Arabella Steinbacher
Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
Schubert: Symphony No.5 in B flat major, D.485
Berg: Violin Concerto
Schubert: Symphony No.6 in C major, D.589
Blog (excerpts) by
Hiroo Tojo, music critic for both concerts
The perfect combination! TSO music director, Hubert Soudant and
the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra performed Schubert's 5th and 6th Symphonies
tonight. Again, the orchestral sound combined with the tense and
firm structure of the music and performed with vigor and flexibility
was quite extraordinary! Especially, remarkable was the clear and
precise sense of rhythm in the 6th Symphony; a well-thought out
performance with due attention to detail.
...In Berg's violin concerto I found good musical compatibility
with the two Schubert's symphonies showing a good sense of programming.
It is rare to find an orchestra in Japan able to give such an outstanding
performance of Schubert's symphonies.
Ongaku-no-Tomo (excerpts, Friend of music), music magazine by Ryuichi Shibata,
music critic for Suntory concert
...Schubert's symphonies were performed with pleasant and rich sound
in the lower strings, and a resilient rhythm resulted in a "Soudant-like"
masculine and highly - structured performance! Mr Soudant's deep
and intense expression leaves no room for indulgence or over-emotional
effects. His music tastefully depicted Schubert's world and demonstrated
Mr. Soudant's individual style as distinct to other Viennese conductors
Tokyo
Symphony Subscription Concert No.556
Saturday, 17th May 2008, 6:00p.m. Suntory Hall
Conductor : Hubert Soudant
Piano : Lilya Zilberstein
F.Schubert: Symphony No.1 in D major, D.82
S.Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3 in C major, op.26
F.Schubert: Symphony No.4 in C minor, D.417
Blog (excerpts) by
Hiroo Tojo, music critic
At the beginning of Schubert's 1st Symphony, a clear string tone
was combined with characteristic round tone to make a very unique
sound. This is precisely "Soudant sound"!
I guess it must be very difficult for the orchestra to make a good
balance with the brass section, but the TSO created that sound perfectly,
which shows the relationship between Mr. Soudant and the TSO is
developing to new heights now. …Mr. Hubert Soudant and the
TSO gave a wonderful performance of 1st symphony in a classical
style and the 4th symphony with a romantic taste, especially great
in terms of contrast. Their interpretation has a fully persuasive
power. This performance was outstanding and the best one in my experience
of Mr. Soudant's past performances of the TSO.
…This is the best orchestral concert I have heard this half
a year.
Ongaku-no-Tomo (excerpts,
Friend of music), music magazine by Haruo Yamada, music critic
…the TSO ensemble is so precise and its sound has a lot of
energy. The balance between a light, clear string sound and a brilliant
brass section is well thought out. These are wonderful results of
Mr. Soudants's direction, and have also created a special character
for this orchestra. In the 4th symphony, Mr. Soudant and the TSO
expressed a "demonic" side so that they expressed dramatically
the width of Schubert's emotion. Tonight's performance by Mr. Soudant
and the TSO is the one of concerts which should be a high-light
in the history of performances of Schubert Symphonies in Japan.
Ongaku Gendai (excerpts,
Today's music), music magazine by Akio Miyazawa, music critic
I was just so surprised by the Tokyo Symphony's performance of Schubert
by Mr. Soudant. What impressive music! In the 1st symphony the TSO
members responded well to Mr. Soudant's passionate conducting, and
their performance were full of vigor and the young Schubert's ideas.
A tender flute sound, baroque style bowing and baroque timpani made
the music dramatic, emphasizing Mr.Soudant's sensitive expression.
We cannot miss other subscription concerts in this season.
