United Kingdom Beethoven, Elgar, Rossini: Bruno Delepelaire (cello), Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Han-Na Chang (conductor). Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 10.12.2022. (GT)
Rossini – Overture to William Tell
Elgar – Cello Concerto in E minor, Op.85
Beethoven – Symphony No.3 in E flat main, Op.55
On a freezing night in Glasgow, this live performance programme was eminently appropriate in ‘warming’ up the viewers with the brilliantly thrilling drama of Rossini’s vibrant overture to his not often carried out opera, William Tell. Making her debut right here in Scotland, the South Korean Han-Na Chang was an internationally famend cellist earlier than she took up the baton. Significantly, she studied philosophy at Harvard along with her research on the Juilliard School.
The opening of Rossini’s overture was eloquently launched by the cello of Betsy Taylor earlier than the concept was picked up by the opposite cellos and double basses. Menacing strokes on the timpani interjected and heralded the thundery musical pages of ‘Storm’, these have been joined by the strings and woodwind and the dynamic passage on the brass previous to the calming solo flute of Kathryn Bryan. The Ranz des vaches sequence allowed a peaceable interlude finely performed on the cor anglais and a lovely duet between the flute and the triangle. In the ‘March of the Swiss Soldiers’, the Korean conductor was extra energetic as we heard the vividly brilliant trumpets within the wildly dynamic galop, as the entire orchestra introduced this vibrant piece to a brilliantly effervescent climax.
The Berlin Philharmonic principal cellist Bruno Delepelaire joined the orchestra within the Elgar Cello Concerto, a bit which at all times stirs particularly poignant feelings. Just final week, the French-born cellist performed Édouard Lalo’s Cello Concerto with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and this was his second look after his debut with the orchestra final season.
Following the brightly colored effervescence of the Rossini overture, the opening of the Elgar concerto appeared reasonably low-spirited with the recitative on the cello within the Adagio. The temper when the woodwind entered continued to be restrained, but there was some marvellous virtuosity by the soloist, ably supported by his conductor. The Lento was fantastically carried out with a sequence of pizzicato from Delepelaire and pleasant backing from the orchestra. The Adagio was fantastically performed – notably the succinct, but soulful theme – earlier than the Finale: Allegro moderato, which was distinguished by a notable cadenza from Delepelaire bringing this widespread concerto to a satisfying climax.
Child prodigy cellist Han-Na Chang determined to take up the baton at 24, and has developed a busy profession and is at the moment chief conductor of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra in Norway, and from the beginning of this season, she has been the principal visitor conductor of the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra. A former pupil on the Juilliard School and a pupil of Mischa Maisky, she says that amongst her inspirations are Rostropovich and Giuseppe Sinopoli.
In her efficiency of Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ Symphony, Chang used a restricted strings group, and made some concessions to interval efficiency with smaller timpani. In the opening Allegro con brio, the cellos have been splendid in proclaiming the primary theme, heralding the wonderful entry on the horns earlier than the entire orchestra picked it up. Chang was terrific in bringing out the heroic splendour by continuously driving the musicians via each her physique and gyrating arms: she jogs my memory of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s principal visitor conductor Elim Chan together with her forceful persona on the rostrum. Her dealing with of the good opening motion was dynamic and momentous by evincing the very best stage of efficiency from the musicians. Chang’s interpretation made this an intensely pushed and vitally energetic efficiency. That she senses the ‘big picture’ of Beethoven’s symphonic construction was evident by her interpretation of the Marcia funebre: Adagio assai, and the funeral march – reasonably than a mournful threnody – had an impressive grandeur not at all times evident. The violins led by Maya Iwabuchi have been magnificent of their opulently dynamic enjoying.
The Scherzo: Allegro vivace was terrific with all its thriller and sensible colors demonstrated manifestly via Chang’s course. The Trio was particularly effectively executed by the three golden-hued horns, earlier than the fruits of the transformation from pianissimo to fortissimo in an excitingly pushed passage. Chang introduced out all of the bravura and fervour within the Finale: Allegro moderato, tearing via the set of variations in a passage of beautiful string enjoying supported by nice brass and woodwind virtuosity and evincing all of the sheer joie de vivre of Beethoven’s masterpiece. It was a terrific debut by this very proficient conductor, and one hopes she will probably be again quickly – Han-Na Chang is a significant expertise within the conducting world.
Gregor Tassie