Péter Halász and the orchestra of the Hungarian State Opera, which is particularly sensitive to Wagner, provided a balanced, very compact performance.
Following the lighthearted, bright music, Bartók switches to melancholy in the third movement, the Elegy, before concluding the piece with the sparkling, optimistic Presto. Musically, this development is handled with smooth and stunning skill by Péter Halász and the State Philharmonic Orchestra Nuremberg. We heard an exemplary performance, the exemplary value of which would also be desirable in the world of politics – and not only in Hungary.
With this work, the music director of the State Opera has proved himself to be enormously versatile. With the well-instructed choir, we heard a performance bursting with tension and colours which was rewarded with a huge ovation by its conspicuously young audience.
Conductor Péter Halász must take huge credit for the interpretation of Adès’ diverse, instrumentally-rich score. Reflecting the musical metaphors and the changing moods of the plot, Halász leads the orchestra with rapt concentration and inspirational authority. There were parts where the instruments were dominant, determining the atmosphere and movement of the plot, and others where the accompaniment added colour to the performance. The Tempest features many lyrical sequences (for instance, the love scenes between Miranda and Ferdinand); there are sections in the form of arias (Ariel) or monologues (Prospero); and there is also a great amount of ensemble singing. Under Halász’s assured baton, with a united effort and a perfectly capable choir, the premiere went smoothly and resulted in an eminently satisfying production.
Read moreAt the head of the orchestra, Péter Halász ensures a varied and colourful sound. Every detail of the score produces the desired effect; in certain places the music is deliberately brash. Considered theatrically, the whole thing remains just slightly decorative, but from a musical perspective, Die Walküre is a truly significant performance.
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