Manacorda, Cleveland Orchestra magic leaves nothing Unfinished at Severance (review)
3 minute readPublished: Friday, February 6, 2026 at 5:03 pm
Cleveland Orchestra Delivers Compelling Performance Featuring Schubert and Schoenberg
The Cleveland Orchestra, under the direction of guest conductor Antonello Manacorda, presented a captivating program this past weekend, showcasing a unique pairing of musical works. The performance, held at Severance Music Center, featured Franz Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony" alongside Arnold Schoenberg's Chamber Symphony No. 2.
The "Unfinished Symphony," a piece that has intrigued musicians for centuries due to its incomplete nature, was presented with an "effective, elegant substitute" for the missing movements. The inclusion of Schoenberg's Chamber Symphony No. 2, a work with its own complex history, created a posthumous collaboration of sorts, highlighting the shared experience of internal struggle within both composers' works.
Manacorda's conducting style emphasized passion, drawing the utmost from the orchestra in both Schubert and Schoenberg. The performance of the "Unfinished Symphony" highlighted the emotional range of the completed movements, while the Schoenberg piece, which was completed later in his career, showcased his mature voice.
The first half of the program featured Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, with Augustin Hadelich as the soloist. Hadelich's performance was praised for its technical brilliance and ability to convey the music's beauty, particularly during challenging passages. The evening concluded with an encore performance of Coleridge-Taylor Perkinsons Louisiana Blues Strut.
The program was repeated on Friday and Saturday evenings. Tickets were available online.
BNN's Perspective: The Cleveland Orchestra's decision to pair Schubert and Schoenberg is a bold one, demonstrating a commitment to exploring the connections between different eras and styles of music. The performance, as described, appears to have been a success, offering audiences a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant experience. The inclusion of Mendelssohn and Hadelich provided a well-rounded program, appealing to a wide range of classical music enthusiasts.
Keywords: Cleveland Orchestra, Antonello Manacorda, Franz Schubert, Unfinished Symphony, Arnold Schoenberg, Chamber Symphony No. 2, Felix Mendelssohn, Augustin Hadelich, classical music, concert review, Severance Music Center, Mandel Concert Hall, music performance, orchestra, symphony, violin concerto.