Walton's Violin Concerto and Holst's "The Planets" at the San Francisco Symphony with Dutoit and Barantschik
The San Francisco Symphony
Davies Hall, San Francisco
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Charles Dutoit, Conductor
Alexander Barantschik, Violin
Women of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bolin, Director
Sir William Walton, Violin Concerto
Gustav Holst, Suite For Orchestra,"The Planets"
1939 must have been the year neoclassic front ranks gave up on William Walton. Here was the "English Stravinsky", who had burst forth with silvery elbow-wit in "Facade" and scandalized church officials in "Belshazzar's Feast.” More recently, his First Symphony had transformed telegraphic rhythm into sheer motorized power, gleaming and heartless. (only the finale, composed late and omitted at the premiere, had hinted at something more sensual and cinematic) The earlier Viola Concerto had parsed-out like the cleanest Hindemith, moving because of its beauty, but bereft of the senses.

