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Who knew Bach could be this much fun?
British conductor-keyboardist Richard Egarr is in town this week to show Utah Symphony audiences that the music of the German compositional titan still has plenty to say, more than 250 years after it was written. Egarr led the chamber-sized orchestra in fresh, exhilarating performances of two Bach suites and two concertos.
He conducted from the keyboard throughout the evening, sometimes standing and conducting with his left hand while the right played continuo, sometimes sitting astride the bench as if it were a noble steed. This added to the sense of spontaneity and adventure.
Egarr addressed listeners before each piece, alerting them to musical signposts and sharing fun facts they might not have known. He also explained why he was conducting Bach's music — which was written for harpsichord — on a 9-foot Steinway. (Bach wrote for smaller rooms and smaller instrumental complements. Anyway, Egarr's position as artistic director of the Academy of Ancient Music gives him some standing in such matters.) At the outset of Orchestral Suite No. 3, the sound of the modern instrument was arresting. But by the time Egarr wrapped up his fleet-fingered performance of Clavier Concerto No. 1, it was easy to forget that the piece is usually played on harpsichord.
Utah Symphony concertmaster Madeline Adkins and principal flutist Mercedes Smith joined Egarr in Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, bringing particular elegance to the slow movement that sits gracefully in the middle of the festivities.
The evening ended with Orchestral Suite No. 4, whose many charms included the delightful interplay among the three Utah Symphony oboists and bassoonist Leon Chodos (stepping up to the plate while principal bassoonist Lori Wike is competing at the World Palindrome Championship in Connecticut). —
Utah Symphony
Music of Johann Sebastian Bach.
With • Conductor-pianist Richard Egarr, violinist Madeline Adkins and flutist Mercedes Smith
When • Reviewed Friday, March 24; repeats Saturday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m.
Where • Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $26-$70 (discounts for students, young adults and groups); utahsymphony.org
Running time • About 2 hours, including intermission