Vivian Coates of Lyric Opera directed and the conductor Péter Halász kept the music moving well, drawing fine playing from the orchestra.
At this revival premiere, conductor Péter Halász accentuated not only the subtleties of the score, but also its ruggedness, and – after the interval – its elegance as well. The orchestra played with true freedom.
The most outstanding performance of all was that of conductor Péter Halász, who coaxed a sophisticated and pristine sound and clearly distinguishable parts from the excellent orchestra. The interludes were imaginative; the melodies accompanying the singers were balanced while always providing the right amount of tension. The wealth of details demanded by the score was masterfully conveyed by the young Hungarian maestro.
In the end, it is Arabella's virtuosic score that has kept it in the active repertoire, played here by the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra with utter authority under Halasz. Special mention must go to the concertmaster for their several haunting solos that sum up the allure of this last gasp of German Romanticism.
In harmony with the direction of David Bösch, which seeks what may capture the attention of a modern audience, conductor Péter Halász strives to invoke music that actually says something. Going beyond mere superficiality, the accustomed gestures and empty perfection, Halász stresses the score’s gravity and nobility. Rather than being bombastic, even the overture is subtle and eloquent.