Conductor
Karina Canellakis
was surrounded by a good deal of buzz when this live recording, her debut on the
PentaTone
label, was made in the summer of 2022, and the album is only going to increase the volume; it landed on classical best-seller charts in the spring of 2023.
Bartok
's
Concerto for Orchestra
was the ubiquitous modern music concert closer until fairly recently; now, the repertory is broader, but there are still plenty of alternatives for listeners wanting to hear this classic crowd-pleaser.
Canellakis
contributes something new to the dialogue, holding the
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
together through a fast, urgent performance. Sample the second movement of the
, which will be a good deal faster than what listeners may be used to. There is evidence that this is how
wanted it, however, and
proceeds confidently. The high speeds continue in the fourth movement, where the big melody has perhaps a bit too much tension, and through an exciting, high-intensity finale. It is a fresh, bold approach to the work that is well worth hearing and bodes well for
' time with this orchestra. The curtain-raiser is the set of
Four Orchestral Pieces
from the early period of
Bluebeard's Castle
, a bit less distinctive but again showing excellent handling of
' new orchestra.
's live sound is clean and showcases the fine instrumental work on display here throughout. ~ James Manheim