here's my concert review (for what it's worth):
at risk of someone from the rso breaking all my fingers, i just don't like busoni. he sounds like a thrift store composer (borrowing from rossini, tchaikovsky, beethoven,etc) and really going nowhere (to me) in his music. i didn't remember one melody, and the places that started out exciting (i think fourth movement is where the piece should have started) didn't go anywhere (compositionally). the first and third movements sounded too much alike and used too many of the same orchestral and pianistic techniques. and, i felt that he should have decided whether he was writing a symphony or piano concerto.
but, in fairness to the unheard works of many composers who are lesser known, i applaud marc-andre for risking his own success or failure on the idea that 'at least the audiences will hear things that are rarely played.' the busoni concerto is not without bravura, and both the symphony and marc andre hamelin did a superb job with the technicality and endurance needed to get through such a long piece (with no intermission). Also, the mendehlssohn men's chorus (which sings at the end of the busoni concerto) did a fantastic job, too. they would do any piece justice, the way they sung 'with one voice.'
my first impression (when the piece started) was 'why is the piano tuned so low?' then i realized they were going to play the entire concerto (without intermission) and by the time they got to the end, there would be such a discrepancy that it would be better to make it at the beginning. BUT, if wishes were horses...i would have had an intermission (before the fourth mov't) and re tuned the orchestra and the piano. another thing that i wish, would be that the conductor would have had access to one of those automatic scrolling computer screens (so he wouldn't have to reach down and turn each page). i only noticed this in the first movent', but not so much in the others.
you have to give credit where it's due. i liked the director, sydney rothstein, and sort wish (for a first piano concerto) he'd conducted the tchaikovsky first or something. even though it is a well known piece, i think we would have heard more of the bass (of the bosendorfer) and less attention to hearing the low Ab (bosendorfer had an extra 9-10 notes, i think) in particular that busoni wrote. also, i felt that marc hamelin tried not to overpower the orchestra and played less of the bass than i would have liked (but i was sitting way in the back in the balcony so it could have been where i was seated).
hamelin is really a technician and musician, but the busoni made him seem like a type A personality pianist. bombastic, virtuosic, and yet very together with the orchestra. he listens well and clearly wanted all of the orchestra to be heard (including softer instruments). if it were me (hahaha) i would have lowered the lid of the bosendorfer and played more bass. ok - enough rehashing.
another thing i liked was the beauty of watching the concertmaster (christopher collins lee) do ANYTHING. whether he was tuning up the violins or just sitting down. he has an amazing technique, too, when he plays of minimizing movements (as in most all the first chairs of the orchestra) and letting the music come out. i enjoyed him immensely. AND, wow - how many cellos, basses, and double basses were used in this concerto. interesting orchestration!
alan harler, the music director of the mendelssohn club of philadelphia has to be greatly commended, too. he is also a musician of the first order. when the men's chorus came in, there was a perceptable 'awe' in the audience for the exactness of pitch, harmonies, entrances, exits, everything AND musicality. they, in my opinion, would have been held up a bit higher had the orchestra re-tuned (ok - rehashing again) but all in all, the flow was marvellous if you are one that doesn't like to break up a piece.
for the text of the busoni: (next message)