Fazil Say's Piano Concerto: A Wake-Up Call for Climate Crisis
The Philharmonia Orchestra closed its 80th anniversary year in style with a poignant concert that tackled two beloved late-Romantic works by Dvořák and Brahms. However, the real showstopper was Fazil Say's seven-movement piano concerto, a vibrant and urgent work that conjures up images of nature under siege.
The program began with Sibelius' En Saga, a tone poem that sets the stage for its dramatic exploration of Finnish landscapes. The conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali drew out the musical momentum effortlessly, infusing the score with fantastical podium antics that highlighted its more theatrical moments.
Say's Mother Earth is similarly evocative, a four-movement concerto that depicts the natural world in all its fury and beauty. Thunderous percussion simulates earthquakes, while handheld devices mimic bird calls, creating an immersive experience. The music can be exhilarating, particularly in the seismic stomp of Earth or the tropical rhythms of Forest.
The piano part, played by Say himself, showcases his remarkable virtuosity, from easygoing bluesy passages to angsty and fraught sections that require breathtaking technicality. One particularly striking moment features Say playing with only his left hand while manipulating the strings with his right inside the piano.
While Say's work serves as a wake-up call for the climate crisis, Dvořák's Eighth Symphony is an almost entirely upbeat affair, with the Philharmonia delivering a big-boned workout that balances Brahmsian classicism with piquant folk idioms. Rouvali's interpretation is sure-footed and elegant, often jaunty but always refined.
Ultimately, Say's concerto is a powerful reminder of the urgent need for action on climate change, while Dvořák's symphony provides a much-needed respite from the gravity of the situation.
The Philharmonia Orchestra closed its 80th anniversary year in style with a poignant concert that tackled two beloved late-Romantic works by Dvořák and Brahms. However, the real showstopper was Fazil Say's seven-movement piano concerto, a vibrant and urgent work that conjures up images of nature under siege.
The program began with Sibelius' En Saga, a tone poem that sets the stage for its dramatic exploration of Finnish landscapes. The conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali drew out the musical momentum effortlessly, infusing the score with fantastical podium antics that highlighted its more theatrical moments.
Say's Mother Earth is similarly evocative, a four-movement concerto that depicts the natural world in all its fury and beauty. Thunderous percussion simulates earthquakes, while handheld devices mimic bird calls, creating an immersive experience. The music can be exhilarating, particularly in the seismic stomp of Earth or the tropical rhythms of Forest.
The piano part, played by Say himself, showcases his remarkable virtuosity, from easygoing bluesy passages to angsty and fraught sections that require breathtaking technicality. One particularly striking moment features Say playing with only his left hand while manipulating the strings with his right inside the piano.
While Say's work serves as a wake-up call for the climate crisis, Dvořák's Eighth Symphony is an almost entirely upbeat affair, with the Philharmonia delivering a big-boned workout that balances Brahmsian classicism with piquant folk idioms. Rouvali's interpretation is sure-footed and elegant, often jaunty but always refined.
Ultimately, Say's concerto is a powerful reminder of the urgent need for action on climate change, while Dvořák's symphony provides a much-needed respite from the gravity of the situation.
. I mean, seriously, who needs uplifting music when you can have a piano concerto that's basically a sonic representation of the apocalypse? 
And don't even get me started on the whole "left hand only" thing - because what's a little technicality when we're all just staring into the void of climate change? 
Anyway, kudos to Say for keeping it real (and also very loud and noisy) 
the way he plays with his hands inside the piano is like magic 
cant wait to see him live!!!
and the way the percussion is making you feel like earth is shaking is insane 
i also love how he incorporates technology into the music, it's like we're already living in a futuristic world where birds are just a button press away 
But seriously, this concert should be a wake-up call for all of us, I'm not sure if Dvořák's symphony is enough to balance out the gravity of it all 
.