Review: "Symphony offering was raw, took risks"

The Peoria Journal Star has published a review of Brett Mitchell's recent guest appearance with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra on their subscription series finale. "The Beethoven, on the other hand, exploded. Symphony No. 7 is step-on-the-pedal, careen-around-the-corner music…and Mitchell and the musicians played it that way. The music hurried, even in the famous elegiac theme-and-variation second movement, now sounding urgent, desperate. Yes, this is majestic music; but Mitchell brought out its feverish, obsessive side as well. The third and fourth movements pulsated not with athleticism but with a crazy relentlessness. Even in the music’s most sublime moments, Mitchell emphasized how Beethoven likes to sneak up on his listeners." To read the complete review, please click here.