Beethoven and everlasting youth
BELCANTO.RU 07.04.2012 Vasiliy Kogalovsky.
Beethoven and everlasting youth
... The idea of vitue obviously sounded in the concert and was especially underlined by Maxim Fedotov. This accent (might be, not the most characteristic feature for the majority of Beethoven’s works and consequently sometimes passing by attention of performers) here appeared very pertinent. As for the age, geniuses, the conductor says, «seem to be much more older than their age and look much more older than all their contemporaries. And they prove to be prescient. In this sense Beethoven is one of the most actual composers today».
It is possible to speak about some reconsideration of this symphony. Maxim Fedotov heard some Italian notes in it, in the spirit of Rossini and Verdi...
In any case, Beethoven and here remains to be Beethoven, and triumph inherent in his music sounds in the Final Movement of the Fourth Symphony, only polyphony is expressed more vividly, than usual: the orchestra headed by this conductor becomes many-voiced. Maxim Fedotov explains: “I can't consider myself as simply conductor because I play violin for 50 years. And we, instrumentalists (violinists, pianists, cellists), should thoroughly and in all senses study each piece not simply mentally, or with one’s heart, but just physically, “with our hands”. Thus I demand many details in the performance of the orchestra which, maybe, escape the attention of conductors-who are not instrumentalists. The whole palette is important for me, with all supporting voices, small details. I like to work with an orchestra on groups, and I consider it as an instrument consisting of soloists. Also I conduct as if I execute it. Life and a pulsation in each phrase, in each thought of the author are very important for me.”