Pasadena Symphony Essays ‘Leningrad’

The Pasadena Symphony is not a business-as-usual orchestra. In keeping with that reputation, music director Jorge Mester led the ensemble in a single work Saturday night at Pasadena Civic Auditorium, the seldom-ventured Symphony No. 7, “Leningrad,” by Dmitri Shostakovich.

Written mostly within Leningrad during its siege by Nazi forces, the symphony quickly became world famous. Its programmatic depiction of the trials of war and the finale’s prediction of eventual victory secured its place in the wartime repertory.

Since then, however, it has found fewer performances, due to, in part, its massive instrumental requirements and length (more than 70 minutes on Saturday). The music itself is not without problems: Some of it is among Shostakovich’s best and most memorable; some of it wanders aimlessly.

Saturday’s performance, part of an ongoing Shostakovich cycle, was well planned and executed. Mester’s tempos were on the brisk side as he kept the music, even in its slower sections, moving smartly ahead. Climaxes were huge and brassy, including the denouement of the famous “invasion” theme, but instrumental balances were always in control. The numerous woodwind solos were handled with ease and grace, the brass played with crisp authority and the strings revealed precision and warmth. All in all, not your average night at the symphony.