Concert Review

Young Israeli conductor Dan Ettinger is a rising star on the global conducting scene.

By OMER SHOMRONY
The Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon Lezion Conductor: Dan Ettinger TAPAC December 19 Young Israeli conductor Dan Ettinger is a rising star on the global conducting scene. His conducting style and technique is strikingly similar to that of his patron, Daniel Barenboim. He too has complete command of his orchestra and a great sense for color, rhythm and drama. This was most apparent in the second part of the evening, when he presented a ravishing performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade" symphonic suite. This colorful piece also served to showcase the orchestra's fine soloists, spearheaded by its first violinist Eckart Lorenzen. The concert's main attraction, however, was supposed to be its first part. Featuring Stravinsky's ballet "Pulcinella," it presented a full-fledged dance company (Yoram Carmi's "Fresco" dance group), three singers, and a diminished orchestra placed in the pit. Unfortunately, these elements were weaker. The dance group was fine, but surely not breathtaking, and the orchestra sounded dry and limited in expression. What's more, the dark hall did not allow the audience to read the program notes which contained the sung text. If only someone thought of that issue and screened the text as subtitles, the piece would have made much more sense to the audience.