Can-do Radu: Naples Philharmonic associate conductor switched gears smoothly for new concert

The star has changed from Andre Watts to Yefim Bronfman.

The program has changed from Grieg's famous Piano Concerto in A minor to Rachmaninoff's notorious Piano Concerto No. 3. 

Fortunately, the engine behind it is still the same: the Naples Philharmonic and its associate conductor, Radu Paponiu. Naples music lovers who don't already know Paponiu as music's answer to the Energizer bunny, will get to see it shortly. He's conducting:

• This one-time concert Thursday, Nov. 21
• The performances of the "Great Russian Nutcracker" with the Moscow Ballet and Naples Philharmonic Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 23 and 24, as well as the Naples Ballet performance Dec. 14
• The Naples Philharmonic and Philharmonic Chorus performances of "The Messiah,"  Nov. 30 and Dec. 3
• This year, all five Philharmonic Holiday Pops concerts Dec. 19-22
• The orchestra's appearances in Marco and Bonita
• An annual evening of classical overtures March 6

Paponiu also serves as cover conductor for all 10 of the Naples Philharmonic concerts. That doubtlessly factored into his elevation this year from assistant to associate conductor.

Even so, when Watts hurt his back and cancelled all his appearances in the early fall, one assumes Paponiu would at least take a deep gulp.

He wasn't fazed. Not only does this orchestra already have both concerto scores in its library, Paponiu has worked with Bronfman at least twice. 

It couldn't have been a better change of horses for Paponiu.

"I had had in mind two composers, Grieg and Dvorak, who were both very lyrical but also influenced by traditions in their countries — in their writing style and the music of the country," he said. Rachmaninoff blended perfectly as a substitute, fitting "incredibly well into the program."

"All of the logistics were easy to take care of," Paponiu said. "It was really good." Apparently local audiences think so, too; the concert is sold out. 

The substitution of Bronfman as guest artist was serendipitous. 

"I've had the chance to work as an assistant conductor, and as a cover conductor — not only in Naples, but also with other orchestras — and I've had the chance to assist, be a cover, when he's performed already twice."

Paponiu covered for Bronfman's performance of Beethoven's "Emperor" concerto here in 2018 and with the St. Louis Symphony for his performance of the Prokofiev Concerto No. 2 in 2019. 

"Covering" entails much of the work, but none of the glory. Paponiu covers for Artis—Naples Music Director Andrey Boreyko, but also has been behind conductors with the Dallas Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, and Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin, among others. A cover conductor must learn the music intimately enough to step in in an emergency, attend rehearsals, even offer sound balance observations for the maestro.

It's been a first-class continuing education for him, he says. The best may be the chance to work in depth with Boreyko, he said: "He's been so supportive, and I've learned so much from him."

He's happy to use that knowledge base with a pianist he thoroughly admires, he added.

"I've always sort of dreamt of the time when I would do a concerto with him. I'm so happy it's happening here in Naples," he said of Bronfman. 

"The first thing that strikes me about him is his absolute integrity as a musician," he continued. "There's something about watching him. Because his music is so incredibly effortless, he really draws attention to the music."

It only looks effortless. Often called the most difficult piano concert ever written, the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 was succinctly described by a writer for the Washington Post as "40 minutes of finger-twisting madness." The pianist to whom Rachmaninoff dedicated it to wouldn't even play it. 

"It is also very challenging for the orchestra," Paponiu observed. "What's incredibly challenging is that there's a sense of rubato. There's almost a little rubato in every single phrase that has to be done with a lot of pace."

Rubato is that extra second of hold on a note or a glide into a slightly slower tempo to emphasize a phrase that a soloist may incorporate. It can thrill the listener, but throw off an unguarded orchestra. 

Nor has Paponiu spared the musicians for the second half of this one-night program. Dvorák's Symphony No. 7 has its roots in the complex Czech national character and its inspiration from Dvorak's fascination with trains. Wherever he lived, he walked to a station nearly daily to watch them.

The composer, explained Paponiu, was at the Prague station when a trainload of peasants arrived, coming to see a musical story based on the Czech people's political struggles.

"He was so taken by this image of the peasants coming from the countryside into the capital, it immediately inspired him to write," Paponiu said. "In his mind this is the 'Czech' Symphony. Everything that inspired the piece is Czech music." 

"The piece is so full of color. I'd say already in the first 20 bars you get so many characters," he continued. Its political overtones skew it darker. But it's a rich work, considered by some critics to be his best symphony. "It's just so full of opportunities."

Harriet Howard Heithaus covers arts and entertainment for the Naples Daily News/naplesnews.com. Reach her at 239-213-6091.

Bronfman and Rachmaninoff

Who: Naples Philharmonic with guest artist Yefim Bronfman, piano, Radu Paponiu conducting

When: 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21

Where: Hayes Hall, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples

Tickets: Sold out

Information: artisnaples.org or 239-597-1900