Switzerland Hosokawa, Suk: Christian Schmitt (organ), Tonhalle-Orchester Zurich / Jakub Hrůša (conductor). Tonhalle, Zurich, 29.6.2023. (JR)
Toshio Hosokawa – Embrace – Light and Shade for Organ and Orchestra
Suk – Symphony No.2 Asrael – Op.27
This was the final mainstream concert of the Tonhalle season and brought Jakub Hrůša (Music Director Designate at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden as from September 2025) back to Zurich.
Before the interval, we heard the Swiss premiere of a work for organ and orchestra by this season’s s Creative Chair of the Tonhalle, Japanese composer Toshio Hosokawa. The work is dedicated to Christian Schmitt, Organist to the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra since 2014. The 20-minute piece was commissioned jointly by the orchestras in Bamberg, Cologne and Luxembourg, the Konzerthaus Foundation in Vienna and the Ernst von Siemens Foundation. Somewhat formulaic in nature, the work places the organist very much centre stage, and the Tonhalle duly placed the console right next to the conductor’s podium. Schmitt impressed us with his virtuosity on the instrument, and the piece allowed the Queen of all instruments to show off its technical and sonic wizardry. We went from gentle, tinkling opening to ear-shattering cacophony in a matter of minutes: as the composer puts it, from Yin to Yang, from Light to Shade. The organ gave the piece a certain extraterrestrial quality; the busy percussion section added a Japanese feel. The piece ultimately dies away to nothing. Hrůša kept time clearly and diligently.
I must admit I had a rather uneasy feeling that if the piece had been played backwards, it would have sounded rather similar and few would have noticed anything was awry. The piece received only the politest of applause and clearly mystified many in the audience – much warmer applause was given to Schmitt after his encore of an extract from Reger’s Fantasie and Fugue Op.135b.
Hrůša needed neither score nor spectacles for his interpretation of Suk’s Asrael Symphony. Asrael is God’s benevolent Angel of Death in several major religions, accompanying the deceased into Paradise. Suk was Dvořák’s son-in-law, marrying Dvořák’s daughter Otilie; Suk revered Dvořák and greatly admired his compositions. The symphony, composed in 1906, is dedicated to the memory of Suk’s father-in-law and his wife who both died within a year of each other in 1904/5.
The first movement quickly works itself into a frenzy, giving a prominent role to the oboe, finely played by Principal Isaac Duarte. As the symphony progressed, the strings were often ethereal, with a prominent part given in the faster central movement to the concertmaster, this evening tenderly played by Klaidi Sahatçi. The slow fourth movement is a sad farewell to Suk’s wife; it is the heart and soul of the work. Finally, with impressive cor anglais (Martin Frutiger) and much thumping of the bass drum, we were back in the noisy territory of the final movement. Hrůša clearly knew the work like the back of his hand and expertly shaped each phrase. He was visibly a favourite with the orchestra and the audience took to his warmth and obvious geniality. He held his hands aloft for several minutes at the tranquil close of the symphony, to great effect.
Whilst I did not come away with a feeling that the symphony is a masterpiece (it lacks the melodic inventiveness of Suk’s father-in-law), it is an important Czech work which, whilst not neglected, demands and deserves more frequent performances and Hrůša made out an excellent case for further hearings. Hrůša follows commendably in the musical footsteps of Václav Talich, Rafael Kubelík, Jiří Bělohlávek, Libor Pešek and Honorary Czech Sir Charles Mackerras in championing this composer and this work in particular.
On a purely personal note, this is my last review from Zurich as I now return permanently to the UK. My replacements are Valerie Litz (for Tonhalle-Orchester concerts) and Michael Fischer (for Zurich Opera). I leave with fond memories of some very fine performances by the Tonhalle who go from strength to strength. London can look forward to seeing and hearing them at the BBC Proms on August 30th featuring Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Dvořák’s New World Symphony under their Principal Conductor Paavo Järvi.
John Rhodes