Philadelphia Orchestra makes a spectacular showing at Kravis Center

“Under principal guest conductor Stéphane Denève, the orchestra gave stirring performances of two popular Russian works Tuesday at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, playing with precision, interpretative unity and luxuriously rich tones (…) The quiet restraint of much of the movement left room for a tremendous buildup to the movement’s climax, with Denève leading a harrowing acceleration, with the music surging forward to fortissimo chords dominated by trumpets, trombones and tuba (…) Denève allowed trumpet and trombone to stomp over the rest of the orchestra with unusual, and highly effective, violence. The famously ambiguous ending of the movement sounded particularly subdued, as Denève emphasized the rote, repeated notes in the strings over the quasi-triumphant notes in the trumpet.”