By Martina Hafner
Loud applause even before the first note! When Daniel Barenboim (80) entered the podium of the Philharmonie, many spectators had tears in their eyes.
Only a few hours earlier, also on Friday, the conductor had announced that he was giving up his position as general music director of the State Opera for health reasons. He suffers from vasculitis, an inflammation of blood vessels, and has canceled many performances in recent weeks.
But now he has fought his way back to the podium for a few evenings. After the concerts at the turn of the year at the State Opera, there was now a performance with the Philharmonic, together with star pianist Martha Argerich (81), whom he has known since childhood. Like Barenboim, she comes from Buenos Aires, and the two gave countless concerts together. When he went to the desk, Barenboim seemed a bit stiff, his shoulders narrower than before.
The Maestro with flowers Photo: Martina Hafner
He conducted sitting down, gave a vehement prelude to Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54, Argerich impressed in the usual way with furor, sometimes effortless cheerfulness and virtuosic runs. The cheering never ended when helpers placed a second stool in front of the grand piano.
“We allow ourselves to play,” Barenboim addressed the audience, “a little piece by Georges Bizet from ‘Carmen’, Kinderspiele.”
The Philharmonic made it easy for the sick maestro and changed the program at short notice. Originally, works by Tchaikovsky and Witold Lutoslawski were on the plan, the latter difficult to conduct and certainly not a crowd pleaser. In addition to Schumann, there was Brahms’ 2nd symphony, in which Barenboim often stretched out very far, but in between remained almost motionless a few times. That didn’t detract from the large showers typical of Barenboim, which nonetheless appear delicate and translucent.
Standing ovation at the end. When Barenboim received flowers, he plucked some from the bouquet to give to musicians, but only to ladies. So much old school must be!
Barenboim and Argerich also play the same program on Saturday and Sunday (8 p.m.). Both concerts are hopelessly sold out.