The Berlin Philharmonic mesmerizes audience with its passionate performance
The world-renowned orchestra performed Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5 at Symphony Hall
Photo Courtesy of Rob Davidson
Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5
Berlin Philharmonic
Conducted by Kirill Petrenko
Symphony Hall
Nov. 20, 2024
On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the world-renowned Berlin Philharmonic performed at Boston’s Symphony Hall as part of their highly anticipated 2024 U.S. tour. This year’s U.S. tour is the second one under chief conductor Kirill Petrenko and the 25th one for the Berlin Philharmonic. In a press conference on Nov. 11, Petrenko expressed great excitement for the U.S. tour. “It’s all about the music when we are together,” Petrenko said. “We forget everything and just focus on the composer and the works.”
In honor of composer Anton Bruckner’s 200th birthday, the orchestra performed Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5, a masterpiece known for its dramatic developments and rich polyphonic texture. The Celebrity Series of Boston helped organize the orchestra’s performance and also hosted community engagement events featuring small ensembles of the orchestra at Boston’s Goethe-Institut on Nov. 21.
The symphony began with a quiet, peaceful introduction that stood out for the strings’ light pizzicatos that were like gentle tiptoes. After the pianissimo opening was this sudden, bright sound from the brass section that was like intense sun rays that illuminated the sky. Adding to this grand atmosphere was the tremolos from the strings.
Throughout the first movement (Adagio—Allegro), the great contrast in dynamics between forte and piano made the listening experience filled with surprise and tension. Towards the end of the movement, the tempo slightly sped up, creating a sense of heightened urgency as if time was running out. Despite the ominous tone, the movement closed off strongly with the rich, jubilant sounds of the brass section that were like ringing church bells. Following the first movement was Adagio, the second movement that began with quiet pizzicatos played in triplets and then was followed by the oboe quickly entering the passage. The oboe solo was beautiful for its expressive melody that was ruminative and solemn. After the oboe solo ended, the movement transitioned to focus on the strings that had a rich, stirring theme.
This musical theme became more dominant over time, as the call and response between the woodwinds and strings contributed to this rising conflict—the strings were loud and piercing, while the woodwinds were quiet and mellow. In the climax of the movement, the strings continuously played higher notes, which were like ocean waves that grew in size. Adding to this magical effect was the brass section’s warm, sonorous sounds. In addition, the strings’ triple meter gave rise to a sweet, dizzying melody that brimmed with promise.
After Adagio came Scherzo, a movement that was like a kaleidoscope of themes, constantly revolving and changing. The highlight of Scherzo was its happy, blissful theme played in a quick, triple meter. This melody had an infectious, spirited energy that an Austrian Ländler dance would embody. What made Scherzo an engaging movement was the constant push and pull between this dance-like theme and the intense and suspenseful theme, which provided a great contrast between the two.
Although all the movements in Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5 were stellar, the best part of the symphony was Finale because of its significant transformation from the humorous clarinet solo to the engrossing ending. Finale opened with a light drone of strings that were airy at first, but became more prominent over time. Afterwards came the clarinet that played a melody distinctive for its punctuated notes and dotted rhythm, giving the clarinet a playful, declarative character. The pizzicato of the strings also added to this light-hearted environment, while the strings’ melody had a romantic feel. The movement took a significant turn when the brass instruments played chorales like soaring organ music, marking the start of a bright future.
Hearing the orchestra come together in full force when it came closer to the momentous ending was astounding. The strings’ scintillating melody paired well with the resonant sounds from the brass, creating a triumphant atmosphere. Finale wonderfully concluded with the celebratory, penetrating brass sounds and the rolling of the timpani that heightened the anticipation of the timpani’s perfect slam at the end.
Immediately, the entire audience stood up to give a standing ovation and a big round of applause. Cheers and whistles filled the air, and the applause lasted for minutes. The Berlin Philharmonic’s concert in Boston was enlightening and mesmerizing, taking the audience on an unmemorable 90-minute musical journey from the slow introduction to the powerful tutti.