SFS concerts “yet another reminder of the zest and brilliance that Heras-Casado has brought to his every appearance”
28 Apr 2016
“. . . Wednesday’s concert was yet another reminder of the zest and brilliance that Heras-Casado has brought to his every appearance in San Francisco (any orchestra that doesn’t have him on the top of their wish list for music director is doing it wrong). “Le Tombeau de Couperin,” Ravel’s loving but sly tribute to his 18th century forebears, served as an apt companion to Bates’ similar exercise in archaism, and Heras-Casado’s performance — from the smooth, slithery Prelude to the tart, swingy rhythms of the Forlane and the bustling final Rigaudon — straddled both eras suavely.
The evening opened in ferocious style, with a crisp and fearlessly dynamic account of Bartók’s “Dance Suite” that had every note in place while imparting a sense of reckless abandon to the whole. A superb performance of Shostakovich’s Ninth Symphony — puckish, daring and full of misdirection — closed the program, eliciting particularly eloquent solo turns from piccoloist Catherine Payne and bassoonist Stephen Paulson.”
Joshua Kosman – SFGate