Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Martin Helmchen

“If Strauss’s Rosenkavalier is the final apotheosis of the Viennese waltz, Ravel’s La valse provides its darkest deconstruction. Here Afkham—who also led the CSO’s last  La valse in 2023—was in sync with Ravel’s affectionate yet clear-eyed tribute to the dance form as well as the biting irony in this “choreographic poem for orchestra.” With vital and committed playing, Afkham led an organic performance with nimble rhythmic point, fluent flow between sections, and a dervish buildup to the coda’s fin de siècle crash and burn.”

Chicago Classical Review