While most Japanese conductors care about vertical alignment of music with “downbeat,” emphasizing downward motion of baton, Hasegawa kept melodies singing vividly with the effective “upward” rebound to the rhythm. The way she gives instruction with the left hand is full of musicality and nuances, allowing such instruments as second violin, hardly audible otherwise, to substantially stand out. She didn’t rush to get to the big climaxes, consistently unleashing energy and there was no shortfall in the power of explosion. In Waltz from the “Sleeping Beauty” by Tchaikovsky played as an encore, sometimes she conducted the triple measure in two motions to produce changes – the approach that Carlos Kleiber often employed, giving us a glimpse into immeasurable potential of the rising conductor. I felt her Tchaikovsky was more like a dream of the composer’s longing for the Southern Europe than a pure Russian interpretation. An impressive debut of the conductor far beyond my expectation.
(By Takuo Ikeda, music journalist (Translated by Akiko Ichikura)
Toyo University Orchestra conducted by Yuki Hasegawa Saitama Sun-Azalea Hall – 23rd December 2013
Full Program Borodin: “In the Steppes of Central Asia” Grieg: Excerpts from “Peer Gynt” Suite No.1, Op.46 and Suite No.2 Op.55 Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.5 in E minor, Op.64 Encore Tchaikovsky: Waltz from the “Sleeping Beauty”