DYNAMIC GUEST CONDUCTOR LEONIDAS KAVAKOS

 Guest Conductor Leonidas Kavakos brought a high degree of energy to the podium in this week's Minnesota Orchestra concert. Thursday's morning and Friday's evening concerts bring considerable dynamism to the concert stage. The conductor's energy was well responded to by the orchestra, both the string orchestra offering  Bach's Concerto if D Minor and  Brahms' better known Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Opus 58. Kavakos' conducting as well as his virtuosity on the violin in the piece by Bach, were enthusiastically received Thursday morning. Minnesota audiences are not usually treated to such athleticism from the  conductor. Some of the audience were provoked to follow European pattern of applauding between movements. Brahms better known Symphony number 1 descended on the audience with similar up-tempo rhythm and energy. A strong French Horn section was up to the challenge offereed by very capable strings. One hopes Conductor/violinist Kavakos and his 1735 Stradivarius will become frequent guests at Orchestra Hall.