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'Little Jewels' From SF Symphony

Janos Gereben on September 17, 2013
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Emanuel Ax ("Manny"), Beethoven soloist

Instead of the usual 1-2-3 (overture, concerto, symphony), the San Francisco Symphony's Sept. 26-28 concerts will offer 7 (seven) pieces ... and a concerto. In a phrase not often heard at the symphony: "What's up with that?"

For the answer, we turned to the man who has something to do with programming, SFS Director of Artistic Planning John Mangum. As usual, he referred and deferred to Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas:

For a long time, MTT has wanted to program a concert including several short pieces, offering a variety of little jewels showcasing the orchestra's virtuosity. The selection on this program, which starts with Mahler's Blumine and ends with Delibes' Cortège of Bacchus [from Sylvia], reveals different facets of the orchestra — the beauty of its string sound in Grieg's Last Spring, the ability to conjure a wide spectrum of colors in Debussy's La plus que lente, and the brash swagger of the Delibes. I think the selection reflects his affection for these pieces, and also the amazing and wide-ranging talents of our orchestra.

Nestled among these pieces, Emanuel Ax performs Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto. Manny is recognized the world over as a peerless Beethoven interpreter. Technically, he's flawless, and he is such a musician — he brings his incredible knowledge and experience to bear in all of his performances, which for me are always something very special.

And his musical partnership with MTT is a long-standing and fruitful one — the orchestra's recording of another Beethoven concerto, the Fourth, from a few years ago, commemorates that well.