Busy Norwegian conductor makes time to lead Sarasota Orchestra concert

Conductor Rune Bergmann has a long commute among his various jobs as music director of the Calgary Philharmonic and artistic director and chief conductor of Poland’s Szczecin Philharmonic. He’s also chief conductor of Switzerland’s Argovia Philharmonic.

The COVID pandemic delayed his intentions to step down from the Polish orchestra. “I can’t leave in the middle of these problems,” he said.

But he still finds time to work as a guest conductor and he will lead the Sarasota Orchestra for the first time with the Masterworks program called “Smoke and Fire,” featuring Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 and violinist Stella Chen performing Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2.

He said the pandemic, which forced many orchestras to either stop playing or adapt to digital programs with small ensembles of mask-wearing string players, was a period that led to some creative opportunities.

“A lot of orchestras got stuck in the way of doing things the way they had always been done. The pandemic opened those possibilities,” he said. “Now I see it’s a completely different future in the orchestra world. Now an orchestra in Sarasota can do more exciting things than anyone else. It has completely changed the industry. Big orchestras are struggling to find their way while slightly smaller ones can more easily adapt.”

The “Smoke and Fire” program fits a traditional orchestral programming format by opening with Danish composer Carl Nielsen’s Overture to “Maskarade” followed by a concerto and a big symphony.

Music for everybody

“Rachmaninoff is a symphony that everybody loves. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, it goes straight to your heart. You’re humming the melodies. I’ve never seen it fail,” he said. “I tell people this could be the music of any love movie from any culture, any country. They can make their own movies and pictures in their mind.

Chen was a fellow at the 2012 Sarasota Music Festival, a three-week Sarasota Orchestra program that operates each summer. She is also an alumna of the Perlman Music Program, which presented her in a virtual program during the pandemic.

“I’ve worked with so many soloists so many times and sometimes you get to meet a person for the first time and it’s always interesting and fun,” Bergmann said. “I’ve heard her play. I’ve checked out what she does on YouTube. She plays wonderfully and I’m sure we’ll have a great collaboration.”

Bergmann comes to Sarasota as the orchestra is in the midst of a search for a new music director. The search was renewed after Bramwell Tovey, who was appointed to the job in 2021, died about a year later before he could officially begin his duties.

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Meeting new musicians

Bergmann said he used to prepare for contingencies when he was approaching work with a new orchestra and group of musicians. “Now, with my experience, I just go in with an open mind.”

And he’ll assess how he connects with the orchestra during his first rehearsal of the Rachmaninoff symphony, which will be presented in concerts at both Neel Performing Arts Center and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Feb. 8-11.

“I always start by playing it through, not saying one word. We just find each other musically. That’s the language that doesn’t have any conflicts. We can speak the language of music,” he said.

“I will feel what they are able to do and they won’t know what I want yet. I will push them with my arms and eyes. I’m physical with my conducting and I will see how they respond,” he said.

But he expects a good partnership with the Sarasota musicians. “I hear a lot of good things about Sarasota everywhere I go and this makes me happy.”

‘Smoke and Fire’

Sarasota Orchestra. Rune Bergmann, conductor, Stella Chen, violin. 7:30 p.m. Neel Performing Arts Center, 5840 26th St., West, Bradenton. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 and 10 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 11, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets are $35-$105. 941-953-3434; sarasotaorchestra.org

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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Guest conductor leads Sarasota Orchestra through a time of changes