LSO: 2 out of 3 Ain't Bad

It's a good thing that by the time the Lansing Symphony concert ended last night with the transcendent performance of Brahms Double Concerto, the audience already forgot the disappointing opening work, Mendelssohn's Suite from A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The Mendelssohn was a downer, because usually it is music that is filled with romance, gaiety and spunk. With shades of Rossini, it begins with a series of lovely chords from the woodwinds. And here is where the problems began.

Those glorious chords were sloppy and often out of tune. To make matters worse, every time they appeared, they were always the same. Whether it was conductor Timothy Muffitt's soft downbeat or just a lack of rehearsal time, those musical flaws seem to have an effect on the entire piece.

Happily, the LSO came back in full blush for the rousing Don Juan by Strauss. Muffitt drove the orchestra through this exciting work with force and triumph. The horn section seemed to blow the roof off Wharton Center with the memorable, macho, signature horn solo. The ensemble performing Don Juan seemed like a different LSO.

But everything truly came together with the reading of the Brahms Double Concerto in A minor, with Ilya Kaler, violin and Ami Peled, cello. A truly unique work in the classical repertoire, the Brahms was perfomed with great passion and beauty. It is rare to hear the piece better than last night.

Kaler and Peled, who play in a piano trio together, communicated like they were in a deeply moving conversation. And Muffitt was right on their wave length. The performance was almost like a trio, with Muffitt accompanying Kaler and Peled like one instrument. Muffit kept the orchestra under the soloists, and brought out the woodwind solo sections to merge with violin and cello perfectly. He was sensitive to the soloist's every musical nuance. Chamber music with a symphony orchestra. Amazing!

Peled's lovely cello tone sang Brahms' melodies and Kaler added his sweet and focused violin tone to the mix. There was no "I'm better than you" going on here. These two great artists were there to make music together and probe the wonders of Brahms with grace and elegance.

The respect and affection that flowed between Muffitt, Peled and Kaler was apparent - making this Brahms Double was one of the great LSO performances ever.