Review: Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall with U.S. Premiere by Samy Moussa, Plus Lalo and Prokofiev

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra “proved its mettle Monday evening” at Carnegie Hall “with a thoughtful program of works that showcased Canadian flavors and the orchestra’s impressive skill,” writes Joshua Chong in Tuesday’s (2/14) Toronto Star. “The concert marked the TSO’s first appearance at the venue since 2011 and the second stop of a three-city North American tour…. For many in the orchestra, including music director Gustavo Gimeno, this marked their Carnegie Hall debut…. Spanish violinist María Dueñas delivered a ferocious interpretation of [Édouard Lalo’s ‘Symphonie Espagnole’] … She fiendishly attacked each note, drawing out the fiery Spanish rhythms with a full-bodied tone…. Under Gimeno’s confident direction, the orchestra matched her energy … Preceding ‘Symphonie Espagnole’ was Canadian composer Samy Moussa’s Symphony No. 2, a TSO commission that premiered to great acclaim less than a year ago…. It paints a ravishing soundscape through its compelling exploration of form and harmony, while also drawing on more classical qualities…. Trumpets are replaced with flugelhorns, while a variety of pitched instruments — glockenspiel, xylophone and vibraphones, for example — make up the percussion. The result is a clear and bright sound, wonderfully conveyed by the orchestra…. The TSO performed Sergei Prokofiev’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in a new suite compiled by Gimeno.”