Colorado Symphony audiences got their first chance to hear Lindsay Deutsch over the weekend, and enthusiastic ovations Saturday evening made it clear they were impressed with the still little-known, 21-year-old violinist.
Deutsch served as soloist on the first half of the Summer section of Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” Op. 8, and a string-orchestra arrangement of Astor Piazzolla’s “Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.”
Her appeal was understandable – she has abundant talent and a fiery, no-holds-barred style. But she does not exhibit the ironclad command and nuanced artistry of a top-level interpreter – at least not yet.
Deutsch offered plenty of flash and some fetching playing in the slow sections of the Vivaldi. But there were moments when phrasing was fuzzy, notes unfocused, such as the first set of fast runs, where she sacrificed control for daredevil speed.
Delivering a more complete performance, the violinist fared better in Piazzolla’s sensual, tango-suffused “Four Seasons.” She ably handled the showy effects and effectively balanced the music’s elegance and earthiness, punch and pathos.
When the orchestra asked Nicholas Carthy to step in as a substitute for music director Jeffrey Kahane, who continues to recover from severe hypertension, it got a welcome bonus – a first-rate harpsichordist.
In true baroque manner, Carthy led the orchestra from the keyboard during the Vivaldi, overseeing accompaniment that was suitably airy and spirited.
The second half was devoted to English composer Benjamin Britten, with the orchestra presenting its first-ever performance of the Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31, a series of settings of English poems.
Up-and-coming tenor Thom as Glenn took on the daunting vocal part, which was written for the great Peter Pears, and fared quite well, mostly overcoming Boettcher Concert Hall’s difficult acoustics.
Glenn possesses a sweet, soaring upper register, and Michael Thornton, the symphony’s fine principal horn player, nicely complemented him.
Staff writer Kyle MacMillan can be reached at 303-954-1675 or kmacmillan@denverpost.com.
