STRASSBOURG: The concert presenting Schubert/Berio Rendering and Mahler Das Lied von der Erde with Strassbourg Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by its music chief Marko Letonja, and with the wonderful Alto Chritianne Stotijn and her great tenor colleague Simon O´Neill, a real Siegfried tenor became a great success at Strassbourg Music and Congres Center Friday evening.

Review and photos by Henning Høholt
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After the splendid Schubert/Berio introduction by Nicolas Southon. It was with great pleasure that we enjoyed the concert the first part ofthe concert with Franz Schubert/Luciano Berio Rendering. Where Berio has reconstructed the un fullfilled 10th Symfoni of Schubert in a way where Berio has continued the of Schubert and like fullfilled it, all the way like in a dreaming pianissimo style, where the celesta is like the introduction to the dream sequences.. Furthermore Berio has enclosed, – still like in a dream – sequences, – themes from other pieces by Schubert. This resolt is made with great musicality, and the piece Rendering has been a very interesting piece.

However it was not easy to fulltile the 10 th Symphony by Schubert, not “easy” like for exempel Turandot by Puccini, which was not fullfilled in the in the same way as what the work were with Schuberts 10th Symphony. . In the Schubert case. Schubert has been composing and writing down some melodic lines, often for obo. and then not fullfilled it. Like for exempel an beautiful obo theme. Which not is finished, but where Schubert has been writing etc. etc.

Another piece for exemel again a theme, where the obo theme is clear and beautiful, but where the accompainement is missing

. Then Berio has has put it into a tempoframe work in the feeling he mean sits it. It became interesting and beautiful. The leading obo solo piece in the Schubert/Berio piece, as also in the following Mahler piece was brilliant and out standing played by the first oboist. Sebastian Giot.

CHRISTIANNE STOTIJN, alto, EXTRAORDINARY in Mahler “Das Lied vonder Erde” .

Strassbourg Philharmonic Orchestre with its music chief Marko Letonja at the podium after Schubert/Berio. Photo: Henning Høholt

However the big highlight of the evening came in the second part, where Gustav Mahlers wonderful “Das Lied vonder Erde” was programmed. It became an extraordinary performance. It opened brilliant with Simon O´Neills fantastic tenor voice, which was shining on top of the large orchestra. His voice is brilliant a real Wagner Siegfried tenor, which is the correct voice for this Mahler part, and he did it outstanding. However it was CHRISTIANNE STOTIJN, alto voice who became the highlight of the evening, specially her very long ending part was extraordinary. Honestly, i cant remember if I ever had heard it better sung. She was followed beautifully by the wonderful Strassbourg Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by its new musichchief Marko Letonja, who has his first season here in Strassborug. It was extraordinary – magic.

Marko Letonja can be proud of his orchestra. The string sound is great, clear, he has a line of wonderful soloplayers, of whom I only shall mention a few, first of all the first Oboist Sebastian Giot, furthermore the first flute, Sandrine Francois. The concertmaster, Rafal Zambrzycki-Payne, and the solocellist  Alexander Somov. The Horn group was outstanding, the harps too, and the little mandolin in the violin group gave it the extra points, when needed.  A wonderful evening with an outstanding orchestra.