Like virtually every aspect of contemporary culture, classical music has succumbed to the lure of youth, glitz and sex appeal.
That’s why the presence of pianist Ivan Moravec as guest soloist for Friday evening’s Colorado Symphony concert in Boettcher Concert Hall was so reassuring. He is the antithesis of all three of those qualities.
The Czech-born keyboard veteran, who has appeared with many of the world’s top orchestras, is old school in the best sense, an artist who puts the music above all else and is not afraid to whisper when others shout.
A model of Mozartean grace and elegance, he offered a disciplined, thoughtful interpretation of the composer’s Piano Concerto No. 14 in E flat major, K. 449. Nothing forced. Nothing prettified. Nothing overdone.
Especially noteworthy was his utterly spellbinding take on the slow movement – direct, honest and supremely expressive playing.
That performance alone would have been worth the price of admission, but the audience got to hear another side of Moravec’s artistry as well. He returned as soloist for César Franck’s less frequently heard Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra.
Once again, the pianist distinguished himself. Some people might prefer a more flamboyant approach, but Moravec’s understated version evocatively captured the work’s range of emotions and attained a level of sublimity in the slow section.
To hear Moravec in these two works was a rare and and not soon-to-be-forgotten privilege.
Because of music director Jeffrey Kahane’s continued illness, Christoph Campestrini stepped in as guest conductor, necessitating a change of program that forced the unfortunate replacement of works by Witold Lutoslawski and Jean Sibelius.
After showing himself to be a capable accompanist on the first half, Campestrini got his chance in the spotlight, and he made the most of it. He led a stirring performance of a substitute selection, Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 in C major, D. 944, “The Great.”
He brought a sense of immediacy and drama to this music, conveying the architectural scope of the massive piece while highlighting its inner dialogues and dynamic contrasts.
The concert will be repeated at 2:30 p.m. today.
Fine arts critic Kyle MacMillan can be reached at 303-954-1675 or kmacmillan@denverpost.com.
