Wednesday, February 11, 2009

After memorable debuts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra as their Principal guest conductor, in October 2008, Yannick gets a real triumph with them on February 11 2009, conducting from memory a magical Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony. This program also showed Haydn’s First Cello Concerto played by the soloist Truls Mork.

It is very unusual and daring, for a young conductor, to tackle an epic score like Bruckner’s Seventh. Yannick, 33,  has recorded this masterpiece two years ago with the Orchestre Métropolitain du grand Montréal on ATMA Classique. In full control during all the movements of the symphony, he showed a superb and personal understanding of the architecture of the piece.

The reviews confirm:

“One of the most remarkable performances of Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony I have ever heard.” “I found it utterly riveting and emotionally draining.”
Barry Millington, The Evening Standard, UK

“It was an astute move on the part of the London Philharmonic Orchestra to sign up the young Québécois Canadian Yannick Nézet-Séguin as its principal guest conductor.” “The orchestra has seldom played with such a potent fusion and animation” “This LPO performance was exemplary in its cohesion.” “Restraint and energy seemed to coalesce, so that Bruckner's hallmark climaxes... grew inexorably towards the final release and resplendent sunburst.” “Nézet-Séguin could galvanise the orchestra into granite-like statements and coax it into beguiling lyricism.” Geoffrey Norris, The Telegraph, UK

“Yannick Nézet-Séguin gave us a truly uplifting account of Bruckner's 7th Symphony.” “ It's been many years since I heard a conductor (a young one at that) so completely in sync and sympathy with the pulse of this music.”  “It was beautiful, passionate, raw, incandescent.” Edward Seckerson, Independant Minds/livejournal.com          

“What was most impressive about this performance of Bruckner’s 7th Symphony was Nézet-Séguin’s superb understanding of the architecture of the piece.” This interpretation was a magnificent achievement.” Bob Briggs, Seen and Heard International

“Conducting from memory and passion, Nézet-Séguin exerted an inexorable grip right from the start, when tremulous strings rose from the ether toward the motto theme, caressed in a voluptuous legato.” Geoff Brown, Times Online, UK