United Kingdom Various: Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Anthony Marwood (violin / route). Grand Hall, City Halls, Glasgow, 4.11.2022. (MC)
Ives – The Unanswered Question (1908)
Alexander Raskatov – Five minutes within the lifetime of WA Mozart (2001)
Haydn – Symphony No.8 in G main ‘Le soir’ (1761)
Bruckner – Adagio from String Quintet in F main (1878/79)
Elgar – Sospiri for string orchestra and harp, Op.70 (1914)
Stravinsky – Three dances from Concert Suite to L’Histoire du soldat (The Soldier’s Tale) (1918): Tango, Valse & Ragtime
Weill – Violin Concerto, Op.12 (1924)
Titled ‘From Darkness to Light’ for this live performance at City Halls the Scottish Chamber Orchestra was directed by Anthony Marwood from the violin. Marwood has been productive within the recording studio each as a violin soloist with orchestra and chamber group member, notably with the Florestan Trio. This was the primary event I had encountered him in a reside efficiency.
Marwood chosen a wide-ranging programme of seven works from composers of a number of international locations America, Austria, England, Germany and Russia that spans some 2 hundred and forty years from Haydn to Raskatov. These are works that I wouldn’t usually count on to see coupled collectively on a programme, however the live performance was no worse for that.
Opening the live performance was Ives’s The Unanswered Question from 1908 previously paired together with his Central Park within the Dark as a piece often called Two Contemplations. This quick but haunting piece was superbly performed with appreciable integrity and was throughout far too quickly. The most not too long ago written piece from 2001 is Alexander Raskatov’s Five minutes within the lifetime of WA Mozart subtitled ‘not a “not-turno”’. In this candy and interesting miniature, that makes use of Mozartian motifs in its scoring, all the things felt very a lot tongue in cheek.
From 1761 Haydn’s Symphony No.8 in G main often called Le soir (The night) is the earliest work on the programme. For this four-movement rating Marwood employed some thirty gamers together with a harpsichord and I observed there have been two pure horns. There is far element and solo contributions to carry the eye such because the outstanding half for one of many two basses within the trio of the menuetto. I recall the light and lyrical Andante motion so superbly performed whereas the Presto: Finale subtitled La tempesta (The Storm) shone out with character.
Next got here a piece from Bruckner the Adagio motion from his String Quintet in F main. Written in 1878/79 this was a interval contemporaneous together with his Symphonies Nos. 5 and 6, though it was not premiered till 1885. Prior to seeing the programme particulars I questioned if Marwood had chosen to play the Adagio within the string orchestra model by Hans Stadlmair however he gave the unique string quintet model. Marwood led his chamber gamers so successfully within the beautiful Adagio with the quintet cashing in on first-class ensemble and the spectacular tone conveyed a hymn-like reverence. Following on was one other stunning work Elgar’s Sospiri (Sighs) an Adagio for strings together with harp. From 1914 Elgar wrote the rating within the rigidity stuffed months resulting in the beginning of the First World War. A private favorite work of mine the gamers didn’t disappoint with Sospiri offering a heartfelt account that was stuffed with sincerity and a particular resonance.
In 1918 Stravinsky wrote L’Histoire du soldat (The Soldier’s Tale) a theatre work scored for dancer, three talking elements and 7 devices. Based on a Russian people story the place a soldier with a magic violin exchanges it with the satan for a guide that guarantees to grant needs.
There is a nine-movement live performance suite of the work from which Marwood selected the Three Dances: Tango, Waltz and Ragtime. Marwood led from the violin a modest sized group of bass, woodwind, brass and percussion all reveling in Stravinsky’s rhythms.
For his last work of the night Marwood chosen Kurt Weill’s Violin Concerto. I don’t encounter the concerto too typically as Weill’s popularity and legacy relies on his musical theatre works. During his Weimar Germany years, it was his landmark work Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera) in collaboration with Bertolt Brecht that gained him each fame and prosperity. Written earlier in 1924, Weill’s Violin Concerto is uncommon for its scoring for string basses, woodwind, brass and percussion. Despite exemplary enjoying by Marwood and his ensemble the concerto is a piece that I discover tough to have interaction with, though judging by the applause lots of the viewers clearly didn’t share my view.
Throughout this City Halls live performance I used to be captivated by the spectacular enjoying from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in a programme that contained one thing for everybody. A masterly performer of the violin Marwood melded his distinctive reward for artistry with an indubitable approach.
Michael Cookson