Great Applause for Stefan Vladar, Gábor Takács-Nagy, and the Constance Philharmonic
Stefan Vladar demonstrated his virtuosity with precision octave runs and trills in the Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major op. 83. In many respects this work displayed Brahms’s originality in his treatment of the form and material of a classical art genre. The evening’s soloist, also an internationally successful artist as a conductor, was the nerve center in the symphonic process (as conveyed by Brahms); almost always active, supplying rhythmic and melodic impulses, he engaged in dialogue with the first-class instrumentalists of the orchestra and propelled things on their way with the always smiling conductor.