Colorful and charming: Lorenzo Viotti surprises with something unknown in the music club – DiePresse.com

This music unmistakably speaks of a contemporary of Stravinskybut filtered through the achievements of Parisian popular music. A charming and colorful mix based on the fables of La Fontaine Paris Opera Danced in 1942, with gently subversive undertones against the German occupiers. You can also hear some animal sounds between the half-peppy, half-sentimental melodies.

Then there is Debussy’s suite “Printemps”, a youthful work by the Rome Prize winner, in which the coloristic sensitivity of the sound magician is at least already announced. And as a useful application of all previous artistic skills, Alexander von Zemlinsky’s “Mermaid”. Andersen Fairy tales, no less picturesque, but born of post-Wagnerian drama aesthetics. Like in Schönberg’s “Pelleas and Melisande” – premiered at the Musikverein on the same evening in 1905! – a huge orchestra roars with narrative power. Viotti took advantage of the opportunity to create large, naturally breathing arcs. And, like the audience, enjoyed all the Philharmonic virtues to the fullest, from the smallest solos to the great emphasis.