Went to the San Antonio Symphony tonight for the first concert with the new conductor, Sebastian Lang-Lessing. He has whipped the musicians into shape and they played at a new level for them. Their performance of the Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 was rousing.
Lilya Zilberstein was guest pianist for the Prokofiev Concerto No. 3, and she was fun to watch, using some great flourishes with what is admittedly a showy piece.
But to me, the short opener, Wagner's Overture to Reinzi was the best showcase for the symphony itself because the strings have never been crisper and more together, and the sound they made was majestic.
The symphony has been in Chapter 11 twice in the past 13 years. I'm hoping this signals a new era for a group this city really needs and doesn't wholly appreciate.
