Exquisite chamber music at Mandarin Oriental

In my many years of reviewing concerts, I have not experienced, as I did recently at the Captain’s Bar of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, two successive evenings of exquisite chamber music. This was interpreted, the first evening, by the Czech Trio Concertino consisting of pianist Ivo Kahanek, violinist Jan Fiser and cellist Thomas Jamnik, and the second night by the Finnish duo consisting of cellist Jussi Makkonen and pianist Rait Karm.

The name “Captain’s Bar” does not conjure classic music, but what entranced and fascinated the audience on both nights was music of the highest quality and standard rendered by excellent instrumentalists.

The more recent recital featured Sibelius works exclusively. They demonstrated the composer to be a supreme melodist, with Makkonen and Karm in a fluent, flowing dialogue that underscored the melodic lines in Romance in F Major (arr. by Karm), Souvenir Op. 99, The Spruce (arr. by Karm). The First Kiss, Black Roses, Was It a Dream? were charming, descriptive pieces with romantic themes, mostly laced with sadness and expressed with warmth.

The familiar compositions were the haunting Valse Triste and Finlandia, the latter originally a tone poem for orchestra. In Makkonen’s transcription, little of its spirited, stirring quality is lost. Karm, taking the place of the orchestra, displayed tremendous technical skill and intense expressivity, with cellist Makkonen interacting with vigorous thrusts in luminous splendor. The duo gave credence to the work as Sibelius’ answer to Russian tyranny and oppression, as Finland’s “musical voice” more effective and persuasive than any written advocacy for freedom. In other words, the duo interpreted Finlandia magnificently. As the audience listened to the fiery dialogue between pianist and cellist, it was alternately disturbed and inspired, and always, profoundly moved.

Sibelius’ melodies are his own in Finlandia as they are in Radino, Maliconia, and Romance. I quote the composer: “In my composition(s), I have never allied myself to any school of music, or associated myself with any prevalent tendency.” His music has been described as “an art of intrinsic worth and substance” as was vastly proven by Makkonen and Karm who drew deafening applause.

Ambassador Heikki Hannikainen welcomed the audience.

Fiery vigor and energy characterized the Czech Trio Concertino, with pianist Ivo Kahanek, violinist Jan Fiser and cellist Thomas Jamnik playing Brahms’ Trio in B Major, Suk’s Elegy and Smetana’s Trio in G Major.

The artists stunned listeners, early on, in Brahms’ first movement, Allegro con Brio, the desired brio heightening interest in the even more zestful Scherzo, with the ensuing Adagio a stark, haunting contrast to the foregoing movements as well as to the sparkling Finale, Presto.

Actually, Brahms Trio is rather uneven, with dull passages enlivened by inspired craft, and the Trio maximized the latter with the most robust rendition imaginable, the cellist and violinist drawing lush, sonorous tones, the pianist matching them.

Many know Smetana through his two-act opera The Bartered Bride. Its sparkling, gay and enticing melodies were likewise to be found in his Trio in G Major, the instrumentalists brilliantly interpreting the Moderato Assai, Allegro Ma Non Agitato and Finale Presto. The performance, at its most animated, most zealous, garnered thunderous applause.

Ambassador Jaroslav Ludva welcomed the audience, and acknowledged the presence of GM Helmut Gaisberger and the help of Director of Communications Charisse Chuidian. The event was presented by Swiss International Airlines, Lufthansa German Airlines, in cooperation with Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the Czech Embassy and the Czech Airlines.

Chinese Art Exhibit

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, the Federation of Phil-Chinese Association, the Guangzhou Academy of Arts and the Metropolitan Museum will present the works of the Linguan Painting School on June 8, 4 p.m. at the Met Museum.