Louis Langrée, known for his “interpretations rich in specificity and color, to a degree that can impress even seasoned musicians” (The New York Times), returns to the Bowl with selections from Bizet’s lyrical L’Arlésienne and sensuous Carmen suites. Brahms wrote his only violin concerto for the greatest soloist of his time and filled it with dazzling passages, dramatic sweeps, and a Hungarian-themed flourish of a finale. Augustin Hadelich, a violinist of “silvery tone and pinpoint intonation” (Los Angeles Times), takes on the brilliant work, which was memorably featured in Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood. About his 2017 recording, Gramophone reported: “Hadelich’s performance of Brahms’s Violin Concerto abounds with subtle detail…he has a sure sense of that vital Brahmsian ebb and flow.” The evening begins on a confident note as Langrée leads Louise Farrenc’s First Overture. Equally graceful and energetic, the piece is driven by punchy brass and elegant woodwind melodies, setting the tone for a powerful program.
