Last NYPhil Rehearsal Ends on a High. Note: Augustin Hadelich Plays Dvorak's Piano Concerto A Minor

The last open rehearsal for the NY Philharmonic featured violinist Augustin Hadelich performing Violin Concerto in A minor.  His playing was sublime and well worth venturing out in the rainstorm.  In fact, there was a packed house for the season's last rehearsal.  Maestro Alan Gilbert final role conducting the NY Philharmonic was last week.  He will be sorely missed & hopefully will be returning as a guest conductor.  Yesterday, young Czech conductor Jakub Hrusa (b 1981) led the orchestra.  He made for a very entertaining rehearsal.  The first half of the program was Dvorak's Three Slavonic Dances which are very lively; allegro vivace.  Attending the rehearsals allows the audience to experience how different conductors' styles & how they navigate with the orchestra.  Conductor Hrusa was particularly engaging when conferring his instructions to the orchestra.  Although seated in the very back, I could hear Hrusa singing the melodies he wanted reviewed with the musicians before they re-rehearsed.  He had a delightful singing voice and the members of the orchestra all seemed pleased with his modus operandi.  The front several rows are blocked off to keep the audience somewhat removed from the stage, partly to allow privacy for the conductors' corrections.  Hrusa rehearsal was audible & memorable.  When violinist Hadelich came on stage there was a warm embrace between him & Hrusa.  Hadelich (b Italy 84 and of German nationality) is a Julliard alum.  In 2006 Hadelich won a gold medal at an Int'l Violin competition and a Grammy in 2016.  The two men conferred over the score together in several places which lasted nearly 10 minutes.  Dvorak's Violin Concerto was played exquisitely & without interruption.  It ended in another warm embrace between the two talented musicians and a standing ovation.