Legitimate inheritances and a fabulous Italian orchestra

There are several types of inheritance. And some are legitimate, others fraudulent. In the case of Michael Barenboim and the RAI Orchestra, we are dealing with the former. Firstly, because the son of Daniel Barenboim and Elena Bashkirova has inherited his parents' talent (without reaching his father's virtuosic genius) and defends it with sound arguments, embracing a violin with which he was able to unravel the fourth of the five concertos that Mozart composed in 1775, a discourse beyond the notes. And Barenboim succeeded, with sinuous and delicate phrases not without that sense of humor characteristic of the composer.

More legitimate legacies: that of the orchestra's sound, that of RAI, which carries with it an important history thanks to the conductors who have led it. And that of Andrés Orozco-Estrada, without reaching the heights of many of his predecessors, was certainly up to the task. The program began with the spectacular Italianate feel of one of Rossini's most famous openings (William Tell) and traced an arc, after Mozart, to the programmatic writing of the Fantastic Symphony by Hector Berlioz.

The fabulous Italian orchestra masterfully conveyed the emotion and expression inherent in the French composer's work, complementing Orozco-Estrada's attentive, clear, and precise interpretation. The interplay and dynamics of the woodwinds, the satanic humor of the Walpurgis scene, and the overflowing lyricism of the most romantic of French composers soared beyond the walls of the Palau, creating a first-rate sonic and musical environment. Incidentally, Michael Barenboim himself was spotted among the RAI musicians playing the first violins.

The program at the Palau de la Música on Monday, presented by BCN Clàssics, is certainly appealing. They open their season with a major event, a prelude to others that will make up a well-prepared and carefully curated series, crafted by the very people who make it possible: the 90th birthdays of Zubin Mehta, Dudamel, Shostakovich, and Khastakovich, among others, await their turn in a season that promises to be more than just promising. It's definitely worth keeping an eye on.