TSO, guest pianist shine in Mozart and a symphony without an end

11.10.18
Anne-Marie McDermott
Arizona Daily Star

Mozart's Piano Concerto 27 is a musical conversation of sorts. 
The piano talks to the strings and winds, and they talk back, sounding at times like they are trying to get in the last word.
Then the winds and brass chime in and the strings quiet to a whisper until the piano asserts itself into the conversation.
That's how the piece played out Friday night at Tucson Music Hall with Ann-Marie McDermott at the piano and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra in fine form under the baton of guest conductor James Judd.
This was the first time we've seen McDermott with the TSO in years. From what we experienced Friday night, we hope we won't have to wait so long for her encore.
McDermott embodies all the technical skills we have come to expect from her: a firm yet elegant touch that is alternately purposeful and spontaneous. She produces clean, crisp lines where every note speaks for itself, and balances mood and tempo with a fluidity that sometimes added a wholly contemporary sound that could have been written 25 years ago instead of 225 years ago. Read the full review here