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- by: MURRAY BLACK
- From: The Australian
- September 11, 2015 12:00AM
Pianist Kristian Bezuidenhout plays Mozart with the Brandenburg Orchestra. Picture: Steven Godbee Source: Supplied
Fortepianist and guest director Kristian Bezuidenhout showed he shared artistic director Paul Dyer’s liking for speed and contrast in his Mozart performances with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra at the City Recital Hall in Sydney on Wednesday.
Aside from occasional sour-toned woodwind passages, the ABO impressed with its consistently well-integrated ensemble sound. Swift tempos, strong dynamic contrasts and emphatic attack created an energetic, vivacious account of Mozart’s Symphony No 36, known as the Linz, while pure-toned flautist Melissa Farrow realised a gracefully shaped account of the Andante for flute.
Bezuidenhout’s own solo turn in the Piano Concerto No 20 was notable for its refined delicacy, astute timbral variety and the way his crystalline passagework sparkled as much as the subdued colours of his instrument would allow.
Unfortunately, his fortepiano accompaniment was virtually inaudible in the otherwise stylish performances of the two opening works, sinfonias by JC Bach and WF Bach respectively.
Bezuidenhout leads the ABO again tonight and on September 16, 18 and 19 in Sydney; and Saturday and Sunday in Melbourne.
