Yesterday at L'Auditori, Zubin Mehta returned to the podium of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra with the serene authority and elegance that characterize him. The orchestra responded with a rich, nuanced, and cohesive sound, demonstrating an expressive capacity that carried the entire program.
The overture to Rienzi by Richard Wagner opened the evening with brilliance and theatrical flair, highlighting the contrasts between solemnity and energy. Next, the Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26, by Max Bruch found in María Dueñas a sensitive and intense performer, especially in the Adagio, where her warm tone captivated the hall.
In the second half, Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky unfolded all the drama of the work, building to a vibrant and expansive finale.
As encores, Dueñas offered Applemania by Aleksey Igudesman and Valse triste by Franz von Vecsey.