Here is one reaction to the second concert at the superb TMF this past July 1st:
The lush music of Tchaikovsky's overture to Romeo and Juliet" ended dramatically. Conductor Hannu Lintu held us in thrall right to the end, then his upraised arm held the audience and the Orchestra Sinfonia di Milano Giuseppe Verdi in abeyance, as we considered the dead lovers . I found tears coming into my eyes! That scene is etched on my brain. When the Maestro's hand came down, the applause was almost anti climactic.
Then to Shostakovich! And Angela! A concerto for piano, trumpet and strings. A revelation for me, I'd never heard it, or of it, before. Lyrical, dissonant,tuneful - what was the trumpet doing in this? Second (?) movement muted, it was magical. (Not a true concerto format, everything flowed from one part to another, some recaps, I need to hear it again.)
And then the piano. But the piano under Angela Hewitt's hands. Pyrotechnical technique flying over the keys, then outrageous tempi and I was firmly hooked in. Then Angela loved up and smiled, amidst this awesome music, coming from Shostakovich through Angela's fingers. Everyone was having a great time, it was infectious, it was capricious, it was fun. All from memory. The orchestra soared along with the piano - such intricate, difficult stuff.
Exhausting. Exhilarating. Ecstatic. And that was the first half...
Thank you Angela, Hannu and Company. Brilliant programming. Words cannot describe the experience.
Come to a Tresimeno concert for a once in a lifetime experience.
This was my second lifetime experience and I plan a third in 2017."