UTAH SYMPHONY with duo pianists Katia and Marielle Labeque; conducted by Bundit Ungrangsee; Tuesday evening, March 7; one performance only.There aren't too many works written for two pianos and orchestra. But that hasn't deterred Katia and Marielle Labeque from pursuing a highly successful career over the past two decades. And these two world-class pianists have finally come to Salt Lake City.
The Labeque sisters performed Tuesday with the Utah Symphony under the baton of new associate conductor Bundit Ungrangsee, in a program devoted to lighthearted and high-spirited French music.
The Labeques played two works at the concert: Saint-Saens' irreverent "Carnival of the Animals" and Francis Poulenc's delightful Concerto for Two Pianos.
The two sisters are amazing. They play stylishly, with flair and inimitable musicality and technique. They dazzled the audience Tuesday and showed that they are two immensely talented artists.
Ungrangsee also showed himself to be a fine conductor. As associate, he doesn't get many chances to do classical concerts, and so it was great seeing him do this program. Ungrangsee was solidly in control throughout the concert, and he elicited a strong performance out of the orchestra.
Saint-Saens' "Carnival" is a delight from start to finish. The composer exhibits his humorous side here and his unlimited ability at musically portraying various animals, birds and even pianists. The work also highlights many instruments that you don't usually hear in a solo capacity, for example the string bass section in "The Elephant."
"Carnival" also has one of the most beautiful pieces ever written by Saint-Saens, "The Swan," and this tender, graceful melody was played magnificently by the principal cellist of the orchestra, Ryan Selberg.
Poulenc's Concerto is an exciting work that's filled with witty passages, but there's also an undercurrent of seriousness that runs throughout the work, and this contrast between carefree comedy and intense drama is characteristic of the entire concerto.
The "Larghetto" is a particularly lovely piece of music that occasionally has distinct Mozartean elements in the writing for the two solo instruments. But the musical language is unquestionably Poulenc's. It's a very lyrical piece, and harmonically it's not as complex as the other two movements.
Ungrangsee and the orchestra also played two other works: Ambroise Thomas' festive overture to "Raymond" and Jacques Ibert's sassy "Divertissement."