nrc.nl
Mäkelä's Orchestre de Paris in Amsterdam: Energetic but Imprecise
Klaus Mäkelä's Orchestre de Paris performed in Amsterdam on March 5th, 2025, showcasing Ravel, Stravinsky, and Mussorgsky; while the performance was energetic, it lacked the precision of earlier shows in the tour, raising questions about Mäkelä's future with the Concertgebouworkest.
- How did Mäkelä's programming choices contribute to the overall concert experience, considering the described orchestral performance quality?
- The Amsterdam concert, while energetic and enjoyable, lacked the precision and polish of previous performances. The orchestra's sound was described as hazy, with individual sections sometimes struggling to achieve unity and depth. Despite this, Mäkelä's programming, particularly Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, was praised for its effectiveness.
- What were the immediate observable effects of the Orchestre de Paris's performance in Amsterdam, given its tour and Mäkelä's upcoming position with the Concertgebouworkest?
- Klaus Mäkelä, currently chief conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic and Orchestre de Paris, will become the Concertgebouworkest's chief conductor in 2027. His Orchestre de Paris recently completed a ten-concert European tour, including a performance in Amsterdam on March 5th, 2025, showcasing programmatically linked pieces by Ravel, Stravinsky, and Mussorgsky.
- What potential challenges or opportunities does Mäkelä face in balancing his roles with the Oslo Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, and his future commitment to the Concertgebouworkest?
- Mäkelä's upcoming tenure with the Concertgebouworkest, starting in 2027, will be closely watched after this tour, which revealed some inconsistencies in the Orchestre de Paris's performance despite the overall positive reception. This suggests potential challenges in maintaining a high standard across multiple engagements.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing is predominantly positive, focusing on the enjoyable aspects of the concert. While acknowledging some minor shortcomings in the performance, the overall tone emphasizes the positive, particularly Mäkelä's talent and charisma. The headline (if there was one) would likely emphasize the positive aspects.
Language Bias
The language used is largely descriptive and evocative, but mostly neutral. While words like "wolkerig" (cloudy) and "log" (sluggish) describe the orchestra's performance negatively, they are not overtly loaded. The description of the tubist's performance in the intermission as "stealing the show" is a positive subjective statement, but remains relatively neutral.
Bias by Omission
The review focuses heavily on the performance in Amsterdam, neglecting to offer broader critical perspectives on Mäkelä's conducting style or the Orchestre de Paris's overall capabilities outside of this specific concert. While the Amsterdam performance is the central focus, a more balanced review might include comparisons to previous performances by the orchestra, or other interpretations of the same pieces. The article also omits any information regarding ticket sales, audience reception beyond a brief mention of enthusiastic applause, or any details of the venue itself.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the cultural significance of classical music concerts and the role of a renowned conductor, Klaus Mäkelä, in promoting musical arts. Exposure to classical music and musical performances contributes to arts education and cultural understanding, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) targets related to promoting inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.