LA JOLLA, California — The Israeli pianist, Shai Wosner, shone in Beethoven’s Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1, No. 3, as he collaborated with violinist, Jeff Thayer, concertmaster of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, and Yao Zhao, the orchestra’s principal cellist. The concert, part of the San Diego Symphony’s celebration of Beethoven’s 250 anniversary of his birthday, featured three of the composer’s early works. It took place on Tuesday evening, January 14, at the new Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center on Fay Street in La Jolla.
Wosner, Thayer and Zhao performed the C minor Trio with elegant nuances, the piano coming to the fore in solos, yet allowing the strings to project even in the most delicate passages. The performance was a model of musicality, with dramatic contrasts and excellent ensemble. The first movement was propelled by the driving first theme. The second movement’s variations were beautifully delineated. The descending pearly piano runs in the Minuetto were executed with ease by Wosner, whose New York teacher, Emanuel Ax, was the San Diego Symphony’s soloist in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto #1 the previous weekend. The Finale dashed headlong to its surprise quiet ending.
For the Pastoral Piano Sonata, the second work on the program, Wosner again displayed his formidable artistry. However, it seemed apparent why this earlier piano sonata, written in 1801, is less familiar than Beethoven’s Moonlight, Appassionata , Walstein and Pathetique Sonatas. It did not engage the same way.
The concert concluded with the Septet in E-flat Major, Op. 20. This six movement work utilized seven musicians, Wesley Precourt, violin, Ethan Pernela, viola, Chia-Ling Chien, cello, P.J. Cinque, bass, Sheryl Renk, clarinet, Valentin Martchev, bassoon, and Benjamin Jaber, horn. Renk’s performance was steller, having solos throughout the work. Martchev played with beauty and security. Jaber’s playing was reliable. The strings all contributed to the success of the performance. The last movement seemed to focus on the first violinist, whose virtuosic passages were like that of a violin concerto. Precourt met the challenges with confident accuracy and beautiful sound.
It is concerts such as these which showcase the high level of artistry we are fortunate to have among the musicians of our San Diego Symphony.
The next concert at the Conrad, sponsored by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, will be in February and feature violinist Stefan Jackiw, SDSO soloist, and members of the orchestra, in works by Haydn, Bartok and Brahms.
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Eileen Wingard, a retired violinist with the San Diego Symphony, is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com
Thank you, Eileen, for your reliable review…!