The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has presented concerts in the acoustically excellent George Weston Hall, 26 km north of Roy Thomson Hall, for some years now. This is a special treat for North York music-lovers who don’t want to make the often-trying trip downtown.
This latest concert was especially suited to George Weston Hall, as it featured works by Johann Sebastian Bach for soloists and an orchestra of about 20 players. Although the same concert was given three times earlier in the week in Roy Thomson Hall, this repertoire is much better suited to the smaller venue in North York – which is less than half the size.
“Brilliant Bach” attracted a near capacity audience to George Weston Hall. TSO concertmaster Jonathan Crow led the ensemble. Crow acted as concertmaster, soloist and MC for the occasion and did a first-rate job in all three capacities.
Concertmaster Jonathan Crow, Photo by Allan Cabral (Courtesy of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra/TSO)
The concert opened with the familiar Concerto for Two Violins in D minor featuring Crow and principal second violin, Eri Kosaka. The TSO players gave a fair rendering in period style with lots of open strings, but Crow and his colleagues were not afraid to lay on the vibrato when appropriate (as in the slow movement).
Then came Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, featuring Crow as violin soloist yet again, now joined by flutists Julie Ranti and Leonie Wall. Ranti is retiring at the end of this season, and has been singled out by music director Gustavo Gimeno for her long service to the orchestra at previous concerts this season. It was good to hear her as a soloist one more time, before she leaves the orchestra.
Sarah Jeffrey is principal oboe of the TSO, and a distinguished soloist in her own right. Her recording of the Vaughan Williams’ Oboe Concerto with Peter Oundjian and the TSO is perhaps the finest recording of the piece ever made. On this occasion, Jeffrey appeared as soloist in what could be called the oboe concerto that Bach never wrote: a concerto that Bach might have written, assembled by Arnold Mehl. It is a perfectly decent if forgettable piece, which Jeffrey played superbly.
Principal Oboe Sarah Jeffrey, Photo by Allan Cabral (Courtesy of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra/TSO)
The Concerto for Three Violins was originally written by Bach for three harpsichord soloists. The version for three violins, put together by Wilfried Fischer, is pretty good music and was played beautifully by Crow, alongside Clare Semes and Yolanda Bruno. Unfortunately, the harpsichord that joined in the piece as part of the ensemble was virtually inaudible.
Finally, the TSO players offered Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2. There are four soloists in this concerto: trumpet, violin, flute and oboe. The trumpet is afforded all of the best musical material, and being louder than the other instruments, it doesn’t have to work too hard to be the star of the show.
Brilliant Bach, Photo by Allan Cabral (Courtesy of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra/TSO)
TSO principal trumpet Andrew McCandless interrupted his leave of absence to take part in this concert, and perform this challenging part. Over the years we have come to expect McCandless to be extraordinary in everything he does, and Brandenburg 2 was no exception. His playing was impeccable, and in spite of being the de facto star, McCandless made sure he balanced his sound perfectly with his fellow soloists. Crow shared with the audiences that McCandless is retiring at the end of this season – the first I had heard of it. Like Julie Ranti, he will be very missed. Jonathan Crow also informed the audience that McCandless will once again interrupt his leave of absence to play in the Mahler 3 performances coming up in June. Mahler 3 is an event whenever it appears on a program, and all the more when Andrew McCandless is to lead his trumpet section for the last time.
The encore and it was both timely and deeply moving: it was a lovely arrangement of Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, played in memory of longtime TSO music director and conductor laureate Sir Andrew Davis. Davis died on April 20.
