Thrilling Japanese pianist makes impressive Sarasota Orchestra debut

It’s been a bittersweet season for the Sarasota Orchestra as it marches through programs designed by the late Bramwell Tovey, who died last July just as he was about to start his inaugural season as music director. His mark was evident in Thursday’s “A Romantic Affair” concert in Neel Performing Arts Center, kicking off a weekend Masterworks series that continues through Sunday in Sarasota’s Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Sarasota is one of the few American orchestras that have hosted the brilliantly talented pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii whose career has centered more in Europe and Asia thus far. A Joint Gold Medal winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (2009), it is no surprise that he burned up the keyboard with his virtuosity in Sergei Rachmaninoff’s epic Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18.

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Musically, the fact that Tsujii has been blind since birth is of no matter. But one has to wonder if the related challenges has created a particularly intense sensitivity and passion. His performance here conveyed ample measures of both qualities. He seemed uniquely one with the score and more than equal to its technical challenges.

We’ve seen guest conductor (and creative consultant) Peter Oundjian at work earlier this season, and he seems like a no-fuss, no-frills conductor who simply delivers the brilliance of this orchestra with efficiency. Oundjian clearly is also a masterful accompanist, easily taking cues and listening carefully to a soloist who cannot refer to the conductor’s baton.

Neel has a fickle acoustic. The more thickly textured the score – Rachmaninoff is 10 on a scale of 1 to10 – the more difficult it is for woodwinds to stand out and be heard, but the sound of the strings was quite satisfying.

The program opened with the solemn and evocative “Nimrod” variation from Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations, long associated with services such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral. This performance, dedicated to Tovey, was exceptionally effective with its emotive swells and undulating melodic lines. My heart deemed the performance perfection measured by the tears welling in my eyes.

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Johannes Brahms’ epic Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 is a joyous tour de force for the orchestra, posing more challenges for the musicians than might be evident. We could hear most of the solo lines of oboe, flute, clarinet, and bassoon poking through the deliciously rich fabric of strings. The glorious horn calls and, of course, the majestic low brass chorale, were magnificent.

Over the past two decades, we have seen a miraculous growth of this orchestra from a very good local ensemble to a regionally, if not nationally, recognized orchestra that evokes raves from guest conductors. Now, in another season of guest conductors, the musicians will enjoy a variety of experiences, but no single music director to lead their progress. The leadership within is quite strong and there is a thorough culture of excellence that will carry them until someone is chosen to fill Tovey’s shoes.

We can only imagine the further growth and expanding musical brilliance that can come about with new leadership and, someday soon, a concert hall of the orchestra’s own with excellent acoustics. I am waiting with great hope.

‘A Romantic Affair’

Sarasota Orchestra with guest conductor Peter Oundjian and pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii. Reviewed Feb. 2, Neel Performing Arts Center, Bradenton. Performances continue through Feb. 5 at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets are $37-$99. 941-953-3434; sarasotaorchestra.org

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Award-winning pianist thrills Sarasota audience in local concert debut