Warm praise for Kazushi Ono's return to BBC National Orchestra of Wales
29 Nov 2011
Kazushi Ono returned to BBC National Orchestra of Wales on Friday night with a tremendous account of Bruckner's 7th Symphony. The Guardian gave the performance a glowing report,
"Conductor Kazushi Ono's performances with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales are always memorable. He has a sure instinct for moulding the sound of individual sections and, in turn, that of the whole orchestra. But in Bruckner's Seventh Symphony, it was Ono's own affinity for Wagner and his implicit understanding of Bruckner's tribute to the composer that informed his interpretation.
Imbuing the opening theme with an air almost of serenity, Ono was intent on realising long, singing lines and organic flow, where others might focus on pointing up the block-work of architectural structure. The solemn second movement with its Wagner tubas was also carefully measured to reflect its succession of ever-more intense statements, without overt ratcheting-up of the tension. The Scherzo found the brass section in vibrant form and, in the finale, Ono managed to conjure a lightness that again swept things on without losing any of the majesty of the climactic moments."
