It happened on Friday 16 March 2018, during the concert with the theme 'Shostakovich vs Beethoven'. As it turned out later, it was more like 'Canellakis vs Radio Philharmonic'. At that concert in the series AVROTROS Vrijdagconcert, the spark jumped between Karina Canellakis, then still as guest conductor, and the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra: love at first sight. It blossomed into a programme with Britten's Four sea interludes, Shostakovich's First Cello Concerto and Beethoven's Seventh Symphony.

 

Few words needed

"I immediately had the feeling: I love these people, this orchestra", Canellakis said (Nieuwsuur, 11 October '19), "It was a great pleasure to make music with them. It's the best when the orchestra can 'read' you during rehearsals: the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra responds so extremely well and quickly to everything that I actually have to say very little."    

Their love was secretly sealed and she was chosen to succeed Markus Stenz as chief conductor of the Radio Philharmonic. Her debut as chief on Saturday 12 October in the NTR Saturday Matinee was a downright sensation.

 

Matter of hard work

It was eagerly awaited. The Great Hall of the Concertgebouw was packed and the national press was all over it. Not least because Karina Canellakis is the first female principal conductor of a Dutch orchestra. Funnily enough, she brushed that fact aside as "no issue", "not interesting" and "irrelevant". Soberly she says: "Of course I am happy that I am the first, and I hope the first of many after me. I grew up with the idea that you can do anything if you work hard for it."

 

Convincing debut

NRC, Trouw, Volkskrant and Het Parool welcomed Canellakis' debut with cheering headlines. Convincing' was the least enthusiastic, '...unleashes a crackling energy' and '...debut in excited spheres' were the headlines in Trouw and Het Parool respectively. On the programme again Beethoven (Overture Egmont) and Shostakovich (Tenth Symphony), and of recent date (2017) Sebastian Currier's Aether for violin and orchestra.

The inaugural programme was a testimony to courage and intelligence. With Beethoven's Overture Egmont, she loosely referred to her introduction to the orchestra [...]. Especially the sound made an impression. It was gourmet, velvety, and yet this Beethoven also shone with a sense of style.  

Sebastian Currier's prismatic Aether for violin and orchestra, with Baiba Skride in the demanding solo part, was a showcase for Canellakis' accurate versatility. She let sound formations organically change shape like a cloud (II), spun out intoxicating long lines (III) and showed American swing (IV).

A sometimes spectacular performance of Shostakovich's Tenth Symphony sealed the afternoon. Here too, you could constantly taste Canellakis' pleasure in sound (Wagnerian sultry brass) and her talent for flowing transitions. The only thing missing was a biting sharpness. But it was crystal clear that in Canellakis, the RFO has found an enthusiastic, archetypal musical director'.

(Mischa Game, NRC, 13 October)

 

Unforgettable

Her drive, coupled with clear lines and polished precision, made this Shostakovich symphony in particular an unparalleled five-star experience. Indications that it was going to be special could already be heard and seen in Beethoven's Egmont Overture. Effective and beautifully constructed [...]'.

That tenth one was quite something. Canellakis can unleash a storm if necessary, but also force silence in order to evoke a desolate atmosphere. The furious second movement was a masterly test of Canellakis' ability, eagerly realised by the RFO. With a kind of sweeping sword stroke, the conductor put an end to the pandemonium. As if, together with Shostakovich, she gave Stalin the final blow on the spot. And in that strange, euphoric (but not really) last part we all reached the finish line, gasping for breath. Unforgettable.

(Trouw, 14 October)

 

Next concerts with Karina Canellakis and the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra this season:

 

Thursday 27 February 2020 - 21:00 - TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht - Main Hall - Pieces of Tomorrow

Lera Auerbach - Evas Klage 'O Blumen, die niemals blühen werden' (Flowers that will never bloom)

Richard Strauss - Tod und Verklärung

More information and ticket sales 

 

Friday 28 February 2020 - 20:15 - TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht - Grote Zaal - AVROTROS Vrijdagconcert

Karina Canellakis & Simone Lamsma

Lera Auerbach - Evas Klage 'O Blumen, die niemals blühen werden' (Flowers that will never bloom)

Sergei Prokofiev - First Violin Concerto

Anton Webern - Six Strokes for Orchestra opus 6b

Richard Strauss - Tod und Verklärung

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Sunday 1 March 2020 - 11:00 - The Royal Concertgebouw, Amsterdam - Great Hall - The Sunday Morning Concert

Karina Canellakis & Simone Lamsma

Ludwig van Beethoven - Overture Egmont

Sergei Prokofiev - First Violin Concerto

Richard Strauss - Tod und Verklärung

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Friday 13 March 2020 - 20:15 - TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht - Grote Zaal - AVROTROS Vrijdagconcert

Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra & Netherlands Radio Choir

Joey Roukens - We are sojourners, from: Rising phenix

Benjamin Britten - Sinfonia da requiem

Ludwig van Beethoven - Mass in C

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Thursday 18 June 2020 - 21:00 - TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht - Main Hall - Pieces of Tomorrow

Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra & Netherlands Radio Choir

Giuseppe Verdi - Requiem

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Friday, 19 June 2020 - 20:15 - TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht - Grote Zaal - AVROTROS Vrijdagconcert

Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra & Netherlands Radio Choir

Giuseppe Verdi - Requiem

More information and ticket sales