John Storgårds and Nikolaj Znaider triumph in an All-Sibelius Program at Tanglewood, by Michael Miller
Tanglewood, Koussevitzky Music Shed
Saturday, July 16, 8:30 p.m. Shed
John Storgårds, conductor
Nikolaj Znaider, violin
All-Sibelius Program
Finlandia
Valse triste
Violin Concerto
Symphony No. 5
We critics, as we go about our dismal business, seldom get to enjoy concerts and festivals in the same way as our readers. A memorable concert is its own reward, of course, and that is why the critics and the public are there in the first place—in most cases, let’s say. Saturday evening, however, as I anticipated Nikolaj Znaider, whose work I know, and John Storgårds, who was entirely new to me, I was able to enjoy a classic Tanglewood picnic with some delightful new friends. We arrived early, set ourselves down by Seiji Ozawa Hall, as the music of Ravel very quietly filtered out of the hall. (The rear doors were closed because of a fund-raising event nearby on the grounds.) We spoke very quietly, because a few people were actually trying to listen to the music from out there. We had no such seriousness of purpose. Neither did the courtesies of the moment impinge on our fun. There is a lot to be said for the traditional Tanglewood picnic.

