San Francisco Symphony, with Lynn Harrell
Concert Hall
Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Reviewed: February 10
The opening piece, Charles Ives' rarely performed remembrance tribute Decoration Day, was a treat for the packed audience. Under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas, the strings and the cor anglais generated a nostalgic, melancholic atmosphere.
But in Schumann's Cello Concerto, the orchestra seemed to have difficulty with the tempo, partly because of the work's structural problems, and partly because of the staggering playing of soloist Lynn Harrell (right). Despite an immaculate display of technical prowess in the extended cadenza, the American cellist appeared to struggle in the demanding passages. The Traumerei encore wrapped up neatly the charm of the Schumann set for the cello.
