Hollywood Bowl: Russian Music, Dudamel’s Absence 2023
A Season of Resonance: Russian Music at the Hollywood Bowl in a Time of War
The Hollywood Bowl’s summer season is unfolding against a backdrop of global conflict, prompting reflection on the enduring power - and complex legacy – of Russian music. A recent concert featuring pianist Yefim Gerstein and the Los Angeles Philharmonic,led by conductor Elim Chan,underscored this tension,offering both breathtaking artistry and a poignant reminder of the past forces that continue to shape our world.
Gerstein’s Commanding Performance and the Core Repertoire
Yefim Gerstein is a pianist of exceptional caliber. While the orchestral accompaniment occasionally felt wanting – too much in some instances, surprisingly restrained in others – gerstein’s command of the instrument was undeniable. His recent recording of Chick Corea’s work with vibraphonist Gary Burton is receiving accolades, and Thomas Adès composed his Piano concerto specifically for him. But it was his interpretation of Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto that truly resonated, possibly surpassing even the moast celebrated recordings of this frequently performed work.
The program opened with Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Every note, whether prominent or subtle, was imbued with purpose and intensity. Chan elicited a starkly effective, percussive response from the orchestra, creating a striking overall performance.
Contrasting Fates: Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev
The second half of the concert featured Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony, written in 1944, a mere decade after Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody.That decade witnessed a monumental shift in global affairs, and the lives of these two composers were profoundly impacted. Both fled Russia following the 1917 revolution, yet their relationships with their homeland diverged considerably.
Rachmaninoff, though never returning, remained deeply connected to his Russian heritage. He composed the Rhapsody in the tranquility of Switzerland before immigrating to the United States, where he lived until his death in Beverly hills in 1943. He embodied a nostalgic,”old-world” Russian sensibility.
Prokofiev, conversely, spent years in Paris and the U.S. embracing modernist ideals. However, the allure of Mother Russia proved too strong to resist, and he returned despite the artistic constraints imposed by Stalinist Russia. His Fifth Symphony is explicitly a war symphony, born from a period of intense nationalism, and premiered in moscow in January 1945, shortly after the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.
A Performance Lacking Emotional Depth and the Weight of Current Events
Chan’s performance of the Prokofiev Fifth, while technically proficient, lacked the emotional depth of interpretations by masters like André Previn, who famously performed the work at his debut as L.A.Phil music director in 1985.The performance felt programmatic - the threatening thunder of the first movement,the lightning of the scherzo,the dark clouds of the slow movement,culminating in the “victorious bombing” of the finale – but ultimately lacked a genuine sense of soul.
This performance unfolded on a day when the United States reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia. The context is unavoidable. Three years ago, the question arose whether Russian music shoudl be performed at all, with some orchestras canceling performances of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.” The Bowl’s annual ”Tchaikovsky Breathtaking” retained the overture, but began with the Ukrainian National Anthem, a gesture acknowledging the present conflict.
A Century of Russian Music at the Hollywood Bowl
This summer, Russian music is prominently featured at the Bowl, with performances of Tchaikovsky (including as part of the “Classical Pride” program), a full week dedicated to rachmaninoff, and additional works by Prokofiev, shostakovich, and Stravinsky.It was with Tchaikovsky that Gustavo Dudamel made his U.S. debut at the Bowl in 2005, launching a historic partnership.
for 103 years, Russian music has been a cornerstone of the Hollywood Bowl’s programming.Russian performers and composers have significantly contributed to the artistic fabric of los Angeles. The ways in which Russian composers - both those who remained in Russia and those who emigrated – grappled with militarism, nationalism, and repression have never felt more relevant than they do today. The bowl’s continued commitment to this repertoire, even amidst geopolitical turmoil, underscores the enduring power of music to transcend boundaries and provoke essential conversations.