Signs of change at the Israel Philharmonic

The orchestra is back, and with a very unZubin-like programme. A concertgoer tells slippedisc.com:

We went to listen to a real concert at the IPO Auditorium. Israel Philharmonic Orchestra two concerts one after the other under Lahav Shani

1st prog

Ives – The Unanswered Question

Bernstein – Halil (Guy Eshed, flute)

Brahms – Symphony no 1.

2nd prog

Sasha Argov – Orchestrated song-cycle (arr. by Menachem Wiesenberg)

Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue (Lahav Shani, piano)

Shostakovich – Symphony No. 9

All works brilliantly performed with a what seems a unique relation between every member of the orchestra and Lahav Shani. IPO members seem to have used this empty hall over 12 months to sharpen and improve their performance both individually and as an ensemble, with precision and beauty from the first note to last.