“Oleg Caetani’s Sensitivity for Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique”: review on Il Giornale della musica
Oleg Caetani’s Sensitivity for Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique”
The Swiss Conductor Leads the Filarmonica Toscanini and Boris Belkin in Brahms and Tchaikovsky
Parma, Auditorium Paganini Oleg Caetani, Boris Belkin - Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini January 31, 2025
For the resumption of its concert season and the first event of 2025, the Fondazione Arturo Toscanini in Parma invited conductor Oleg Caetani to lead its Philharmonic Orchestra. The program featured Johannes Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77, followed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, the “Pathétique.”
Composed in 1878 and premiered on January 1, 1879, at Leipzig’s Gewandhaus, Brahms’ Violin Concerto masterfully balances romantic expressivity with classical elegance. This refined equilibrium permeates its three movements, where the orchestral texture and the violin’s solo role interact in a dynamic yet harmonious dialogue. The concerto was written with Joseph Joachim in mind, Brahms’ close friend and the work’s dedicatee.
Caetani approached this piece with restraint and poise, allowing space for the violin’s protagonism. Russian-born violinist Boris Belkin, with his extensive experience, shaped a performance that prioritized fluid phrasing over flawless intonation, particularly in the opening Allegro non troppo. The interplay between Caetani’s orchestra and Belkin’s violin reached its most compelling balance in the finale, where folkloric inflections added vigor and charm.
A more intense and captivating reading defined Caetani’s interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique.” Under his direction, the Filarmonica Toscanini delivered a performance marked by a rich yet varied timbral blend, seamlessly navigating the symphony’s dramatic contrasts—between forceful rhythmic surges and heart-wrenching lyrical expansions. This final symphonic testament of Tchaikovsky, premiered just days before his death in October 1893, embodies a deep emotional and dynamic breadth, ranging from fortissimo to pianissimo.
Caetani brought out these extremes with a keen interpretative insight, culminating in a performance met with prolonged and enthusiastic applause from the audience at Auditorium Paganini.
