Playing an all-Tchaikovsky program,the night of January 6, 2016 at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra proved they are at the very top of their game. Under the conduction of the extraordinary Louis Langrée, the orchestra seems to have found the perfect leader, someone who represents the sophistication of the old world, but brings a feeling of all-American groundedness to the notion that classical music should be experienced, not just dissected.

The program began with Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, featuring pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk whose tenacious playing at times seemed to steal too much of the spotlight from the rest of the orchestra. At times it felt slightly as if it was he, who was leading the rest of the players which made for a rough start, until Langrée overtook him and turned the first half of the concert into an organic event. Gavrylyuk’s performance in the Allegro con fuoco was astonishingly beautiful, and by the time the concerto was over, he had no choice but to provide excited audience members with an encore. His choice: Nocturne no. 8 in D-flat, op. 27 no. 2.

With the massive piano gone for the second act, Langrée found the perfect opportunity for his orchestra to shine as they took on Tchaikovsky’s Symphpny No. 5 in E minor, a sweeping aural miracle that filled the night with a sense of timeless joy. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra wasn’t only a pleasure to listen to, but also to behold, as the movements and thrilled expressions of the players made for a spectacle all their own.

Upon completing the symphony, the orchestra returned for a crowd pleasing encore consisting of the “Waltz of the Flowers” from The Nutcracker Suite, it was the perfect way to wrap up the holiday season, and a flawless way for the orchestra to leave everyone craving for more.