Daily Archives: 13 October, 2013

London Philharmonic Orchestra

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Guancarlo

London Philharmonic Orchestra,

Congress Theatre, Eastbourne,

13 October 2013

Giancarlo Guerrero is not a conductor I have seen before, but judging by his performance this afternoon, I would love to do so again.

He led an inspired performance of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony which allowed the orchestra to be responsible for themselves on many occasions, and showed an immense love of the music and a trust in his musicians. The first movement brought some delicate, gentle phrasing and a fine control of dynamic, but it was the third movement which brought everything to life.

From my position close to the celli I was aware of his facial gestures. In this pizzicato third movement he gave up conducting with his hands or baton, relying on occasional lifted eyebrows or pursed lips to achieve just the right nudge for the strings. It was highly entertaining but also musically entrancing. There was even a point at which he looked at his watch – was Tchaikovsky really repeating that phrase again?

Then the final movement released the energy which had been held in before. He shaped the paragraphs of the music with his whole body and brought the afternoon to a stunning climax.

I do hope we see him again.

Rustem Hayroudinoff was the soloist in Chopin’s second piano concerto which was impressive, but not as much as his encore. A study for the left hand alone, if I had not seen his static right hand I would have refused to believe my ears. This was music-making of the highest quality.

The afternoon had opened with a suite from Carmen. Though well played it seemed a rather too obviously popular choice as an opening filler and we could have done with something a little more substantial. BH

Maidstone Symphony Orchestra

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mso

Maidstone Symphony Orchestra,

Laura van der Heijden, cello,

Brian Wright

Mote Hall, Maidstone, 12 October 2013

The prospect of hearing Britten in the Mote Hall, Maidstone, conjures up visions of the Moot Hall at Aldeburgh, but the bleak concrete Leisure Centre could hardly be less romantic. Happily, once the lights are switched off, the Maidstone Symphony Orchestra adds a touch of magic and we are in a concert hall for the start of the new season.

Each concert includes a concerto with a young musician and it will surely be difficult for the other soloists this season to have quite the impact that Laura van der Heijden achieved last night in the Elgar cello concerto. The unusually slow, hushed opening was foretaste of what was to come. Where so many soloists find melancholy or even despair in these pages, here we had the joy that autumn can bring. Sudden tiny bursts of sunlight in the mist, minute changes of tone and colour, gone before we could pin them down. As the first movement drew towards its close she brought a coolness, even a playfulness to the phrasing which was deeply moving.

Laura

 

The second movement was clean and warm but never indulgent. Those of us used to a heady amount of portamento here may have been struck by the almost classical impact of the melodic line. This led to a noble opening for the final movement and a sparky conclusion. The return to the opening theme was a memory, not a fulfilment. When we recall that Laura van der Heijden won the BBC Young Musician of the year in 2012 and is only 16 now, this was a truly remarkable performance. I look forward to hearing her again soon.

The evening had opened with Britten’s Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes. There was real tension in the wind and a rawness in the brass which was very effective, supported by secure strings. The acoustic is good but exposes solo parts so that the tiniest details can be heard. Individual woodwind entries in the storm scene were unexpectedly clear and the impact of the percussion brighter than usual.

After the interval we heard Rachmaninov’s Third Symphony. If there had been any thought that the shrill wind and rasping brass had been endemic to the orchestra, the lush, highly romantic sounds produced here showed the range of tone the orchestra can produce. The string sound became more positive and lush and the horns warm and rounded. The trembling solo horn with the harp was particularly effective at the opening of the second movement.

The final movement was furious in pace and Brian Wright held his forces together with aplomb, bringing all of us to a triumphant conclusion. BH

Brian Wright

 

The next concert at the Mote Hall is on 30 November when Tom Bettley will play Gliere’s Horn Concerto. www.mso.org.uk

Laura van der Heijden will perform Elgar’s cello concerto again this Wednesday 16 Oct at the RFH in a programme under Brian Wright which also includes Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast.